Today was my last Sunday in the Colonial 2nd Ward. For the past two weeks I have been researching and gathering material for my talk. I found a lot of great quotes and scriptures, however, I was completely dumbfounded when it came to organizing the material I had. Plus I still needed to find more material! Unfortunately, the day before my talk I had to work from1pm till closing at my job. I woke up early in attempt to finish my talk. But that didn't happen. I still was at a loss :(
When I got home from my shift around 10:30pm I talked with my mom to try and get some ideas from her, but all she said was "go collaborate with the Lord." So I said a little prayer, begging for help, because at this point I was a "little" stressed that I had nothing written down!I began to research more things and was inspired on what keywords to search. I was able to find great material and was able to put together a talked that flowed subject to subject. I finished writing my talk around 4am. What a blessing that my church doesn’t start till 3pm.
I love the subtle promptings of the Spirit, like what keywords to search or how to phrase a sentence. The Lord does help us in those hours that we desperately need him. All we got to do is kneel and ask for his help.
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LIVING THE STANDARDS OF THE GOSPEL
March 13, 2011
I would like to start off with a story from Richard G. Scott about a young man who made some wrong decisions, he says:
Seated across from me was a despondent man, head buried in hands, sobbing from the inevitable consequences of repeated violations of the commandments of God. He anguished: “I don’t know what to do. Everything is pressing in on me. I’m tired of running. There is no peace, no happiness…
As my heart sorrowed for him, I realized he does not see the world as it really is—a place of joy and happiness, of true friendships where faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to His teachings invite the Holy Ghost to prompt correct decisions. He lives in an environment dominated by the influence of Satan…He was carried on the crest of the wave of appetite and passion, oblivious to the consequences until the inevitable crushing encounter with the laws of God occurred. That produced pain, remorse, and regret.
Alma’s words to his son Corianton are profoundly true in this story, as well as, in our own lives, “wickedness never was happiness.”
How many times have each of us made mistakes and have felt the hopelessness and quilt that come because of transgression?
In Mosiah 2:40-41, King Benjamin is addressing his people and says:
I pray that ye should awake to a remembrance of the awful situation of those that have fallen into transgression…I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. From modern-day revelation we have been given more standards and further instruction on existing commandments. We are asked to obey the word of wisdom, be honest in all things, observe the Sabbath day, dress modestly, use clean speech, live the law of chastity and many other things.
Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley said:
We have standards—sure, tested, and effective. To the extent that we observe them, we shall go forward. To the extent that we neglect them, we shall hinder our own progress …These standards have come from Him. Some of them may appear a little out-of-date in our society, but this does not detract from their validity nor diminish the virtue of their application. The subtle reasoning of men, no matter how clever, no matter how plausible it may sound, cannot abridge the declared wisdom of God.
Satan seeketh “that all men might be miserable like unto himself” (2 Nephi 2:27), while God’s whole plan for us is called the plan of happiness! Therefore, I think it is safe to say disobedience, will make us miserable like Satan and obedience to the commandments of God will bless us and bring us great happiness.
President Spencer W. Kimball said, “Peace, joy, satisfaction, happiness, growth, [and] contentment, all come with the righteous living of the commandments of God.” Indeed, we can see that much of personal happiness depends on agency.
As the scriptures say, we 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.”
I hope we choose to follow God. We should follow the standards of the gospel because of the testimony we testimony of them, because we want to follow the Lord.
Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the 1st Quorum of the Seventy said, “There is a critical difference between living our lives by rules and standards that seem imposed on us and living by standards that we regard as our own.”
Once we gain a testimony of the standards and commandments of God, they “are no longer a source of irritation or even something we reluctantly tolerate. Instead, they become our friends, and we appreciate and embrace them”. They become part of our character
Elder Jensen continues:
As our commitment to the gospel and its standards deepens, our understanding of God’s purposes is enlarged and our feelings about temptation and sin change. In our early years, some temptations may actually appear enticing, and we may struggle with exercising our agency in right ways. Indeed, we may make some mistakes. Thankfully, the gospel provides a way for us to repent and obtain forgiveness. As we progress in choosing and doing the right, we will eventually join King Benjamin’s people in having “no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually (Mosiah 5:2).
Knowing the consequences of sin and the blessing of obedience will help us make righteous decisions. But having a testimony and deep understanding of the commandments of God will keep us anchored to Christ and steadfast in living the standards of the gospel.
As we live the standards of the gospel each day, we will be strengthened and able to resist temptation. And as we continue to make righteous decisions, Satan’s enticing will become less appealing and his hold over us weaker.
There are many things we face each day that test our integrity, our faith, and our obedience. We must face every challenge with courage and faith.
In the Ensign Article, Everyday Courage, Ron Woods says:
The courage spoken of here is not necessarily the physical bravery shown by soldiers or rescue teams who risk their own safety to protect others, or by mountain climbers who scale sheer walls by jamming fingers into crevices, although no one would deny that such actions require tremendous bravery…The courage called for in the gospel is usually less visible, and it seldom makes news. It’s an unshakable commitment to live by correct principles as opposed to “going along”. To live the truth with integrity and reject anything less. This kind of commitment is resolute, bold, and confident, while at the same time quiet, unassuming, and humble.
In the 1982 October Ensign, I came across a story about a young man determined to keep the Sabbath day holy.
Erroll Bennett was the top soccer player in Tahiti when he was introduced to the LDS Church and was baptized, despite considerable opposition from family and sports officials.
Soccer is Tahiti’s biggest sport, and when Bennet was baptized all soccer games in the country were played on Sunday. Because of the Sunday games, Brother Bennett knew that deciding to join the Church and spend his Sundays in Church activities would spell the end of his soccer career, which was then at its height. The day after his baptism, a Sunday, Brother Bennett did not play, and he was prepared to resign his position during the coming week.
A few days later, when it was clear that Bennett meant to stand by his commitment, the league met and concluded that the long tradition of playing soccer games on Sundays was a bad idea after all. All top twelve clubs agreed to move their games to weeknights. (See Ensign, Oct. 1982, pp. 14–20.)
When we obey the commandments of God, we will be blest. Whenever we face great opposition, choose the right, your example could have a lasting impact on others.
Granted, courageously living the standards of the gospel will not yield a miraculous result every time. More than likely nothing will happen and perhaps we may face greater opposition for obeying the commandments. But know that you will be filled with peace and feel the support of the Lord when you choose the right.
Prophet Thomas S. Monson said:
Life’s journey is not traveled on a freeway devoid of obstacles, pitfalls, and snares. Rather, it is a pathway marked by forks and turnings. Decisions are constantly before us. To make them wisely, courage is needed: the courage to say no, the courage to say yes…Of course we will face fear, experience ridicule, and meet opposition. Let us have the courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle.
I just want to express my testimony of how important it is to live the commandments of God. I can truly testify that wrong decisions do not bring happiness. I have made the bad choices and have felt the overwhelming quilt, remorse, pain, and hopeless that results from sin. However, I know we can all overcome those things that easily beset us. God loves us so much and desires nothing more for us then to come unto him and be happy! Through the atonement we can be forgiven for a multitude of sins. Forgiveness takes away the burdens of sin and consumes us with the feelings of peace and love. I know God loves me, I know he loves you. He has given us commandments and standards so that we may be happy and free from the bondage of sin. I know these things are true and I hope we all can be bold and courageous in living the standards of God. I say these things in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
