• Preparação Para Frequentar o Templo
• "Sede Vós Praticantes da Palavra"
• A Familia: Proclamação ao Mundo
• Strenght in Adversity
• Love (por Stephen Covey)
• "In Him All Things Hold Together"
• Standards of Standard-Bearers Of The Lord

Nossa influência deve ser constantemente sentida, na salvaguarda dos padrões morais de nossos lares e comunidades

"E sede cumpridores da palavra, e não somente ouvintes, enganando-vos com falsos discursos. Porque, se alguém é ouvinte da palavra, e não cumpridor, é semelhante ao varão que contempla ao espelho o seu rosto natural; Porque se contempla a si mesmo, e foi-se, e logo se esqueceu de que tal era. Aquele, porém, que atenta bem para a lei perfeita da liberdade, e nisso persevera, não sendo ouvinte esquecido, mas fazedor da obra, este tal será bem aventurado no seu feito." (Tiago 1:22-25)

Maravilho-me ao estudar as escrituras, e ver quão frequentemente o Senhor achou necessário lembrar-nos das bênçãos que nos deu, e como devemos usar esses grandiosos dons. Quando o Senhor completou sua criação da terra, e inspeccionou o que havia realizado, viu que era boa. Então Deus criou macho e fêmea e os abençoou. Suas primeiras instruções aos filhos recém-criados foi que se multiplicassem, enchessem e subjugassem a terra. Há um apóio a esta mensagem no Livro de Mórmon. O justo que trabalha, gozará de abundância e da plenitude da terra. Afastar-se do justo trabalho será colher pobreza, dor e amargura. A palavra do Senhor nas escrituras modernas novamente ordena: "Não serás ocioso; porque o ocioso não comerá o pão nem usará as vestes do trabalhador". (Doutrina e Convénios, 42: 42) É evidente das escrituras que o senhor deseja que usemos a matéria-prima que ele nos deu em abundância, abençoando-nos.

O Salvador, em seu ministério terreno, ensinou-nos esse principio pelo exemplo, exortação e parábola. A mensagem foi delineada especificamente na parábola dos talentos. (Mateus 25: 14-30) Nela, o Salvador nos conta de um homem que iria viajar a um país distante, e que chamou seus servos, para lhes entregar seus bens. A um, ele entregou cinco talentos, a outro, dois, e a outro, um; a cada homem de acordo com suas várias habilidades. A seguir, partiu em viagem. Aqueles que receberam cinco e dois talentos, respectivamente, trabalharam com diligência para dobrar o que haviam recebido. Mas aquele que recebeu um, foi e escondeu na terra o dinheiro de seu senhor. Após algum tempo, o Senhor retornou. Àqueles que tinham ganho cinco e dois talentos, o Senhor disse: "Bem está, servos bom e fiel. Sobre pouco fostes fiel, sobre muito te colocarei; entra no gozo do teu senhor". (Mateus 25:21) Aquele que havia recebido um talento, e cavado a terra e escondido, trouxe seu talento, e tentou justificar-se por não haver multiplicado o que o senhor lhe dera. O senhor não o saudou com um "Bem está". Sua saudação foi: "Mau e negligente servo" (Mateus 25:26). E então disse o senhor: "Tirai-lhe pois o talento, e dai-o ao que tem dez talentos. Porque a qualquer que tiver será dado, e terá em abundância; mas ao que não tiver até o que tem ser-lhe-á tirado." (Mateus 25: 28-29)

Como pai terno e amoroso, o Senhor tem ensinado seus filhos a respeito do prazer e da satisfação, bem como das recompensas da realização de algo. Como todos os que recebem a luz do evangelho, devemos estar especialmente motivados a desempenhar as tarefas o melhor possível. Gostaria de desafiá-los em cinco áreas, onde deverão fazer um esforço especial, a fim de magnificar as oportunidades com as quais o Senhor os abençoou.

Em primeiro lugar, como maridos e esposas. Nossa compreensão desse relacionamento eterno deveria fazer com que nos empenhássemos ao máximo e fôssemos determinados a ser bem sucedidos nesta importante responsabilidade de nossa existência terrena. Afirmou o presidente Kimball: "O casamento é talvez a mais vital das decisões, e tem os efeitos mais duradouros, pois não se limita apenas à felicidade imediata, mas também Às alegrias eternas. Afecta não só as duas pessoas envolvidas, mas também suas famílias, e particularmente seus filhos, netos e descendentes durante muitas gerações". (Spencer W. Kimball, Marriage and Divorce, Deseret Books., 1976, p. 10)

Existe hoje um plano popularíssimo e demoníaco que tenta abalar as raízes dessa essencial e básica organização. Satanás, em seu astuto plano para destruir a humanidade, tem-se infiltrado nos terrenos sagrados de nossos lares. Ele tenta dar aspectos de finura à infidelidade, fazer do divórcio um lugar comum, e tornar populares as relações extra-conjugais. A História dá-nos evidência abundante de que tal comportamento social destruirá a humanidade. Certamente, com nosso conhecimento relativo à natureza eternas desta sagrada união entre marido e mulher, temos que tentar, com toda a diligência, fazer de nosso casamento algo digno de uma bênção celestial. O Profeta Joseph Smith tinha um modo notável de resolver os problemas que tinha com a esposa. David Whitmer nos conta de um caso especifico, um incidente ocorrido na vida de Joseph e Emma Smith, da seguinte forma: "Certa manhã, quando (Joseph Smith) se preparava para continuar a tradução, ocorreu um problema em casa que o envolveu. Era algo que Emma, sua esposa, havia feito. Oliver (Cowdery) e eu subimos para o andar superior, e Joseph entrou logo em seguida para continuar a tradução, mas não pôde fazer nada. Não conseguia traduzir uma sílaba sequer. Ele desceu, foi até ao pomar, e suplicou ao Senhor; já havia saído por cerca de uma hora - então voltou à casa , pediu perdão a Emma, e subiu novamente e, só então, a tradução pôde transcorrer normalmente." (B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, 1: 131)

Fico pensando por quanto tempo perdurariam os problemas existentes entre marido e mulher, se permitíssemos ao Senhor que esfriasse nossas cabeças, e trouxesse a razão de volta a nossas mentes, se apenas nos ajoelhássemos diante Dele, e pedíssemos força para obter o perdão. Desafio-os hoje a tornarem seu casamento algo especial. Sigam o conselho das escrituras, e façam com que seu casamento seja edificado sobre um alicerce de fé em Cristo, e que seja enraizado e cultivado o terreno do amor. (Efésios 3:17)

Em segundo lugar, a maior de todas as bênçãos de uma união eterna, é o direito de possuir uma família eterna. Se for o desejo do Senhor, os casamentos justos deverão produzir filhos. E eles deverão ter o privilégio de vir à terra por intermédio de uma linhagem altamente favorecida. Um dos ricos privilégios de uma Autoridade Geral da Igreja é, talvez, o de, trinta ou quarenta vezes ao ano, visitar as estacas da Igreja, e ser hóspede em casa dos presidentes de estaca. Estou certo de que temos visto, em primeira mão, alguns dos melhores lares de todo o mundo.

Lembro-me de que fui designado a comparecer a uma conferência de estaca há algum tempo atrás, em que o presidente de estaca era dentista. Evidenciara-se, ao ver-se a casa e as instalações, que era um homem muito bem sucedido na sua profissão. Suponho que poderia dar aos filhos qualquer coisa que quisessem. Entretanto, ele os amava o suficiente para ensinar-lhes responsabilidades. Mudou-se da cidade para uma área rural, onde ensinava à família o valor do trabalho. Como gostei de sentar-me com os filhos e vê-los descreverem os projectos cuja responsabilidade haviam sido designados a cumprir. Com orgulho, eles me contavam quantos ovos por dia produziam as galinhas, ou a altura do milho, ou a condição do gado no campo. Essa família tinha como lema a secção 88 de Doutrina e Convénios, versículo 119: "Organizai-vos; preparai todas as coisas necessárias; e estabelecei uma casa, mesmo uma casa de oração, uma casa de jejum, uma casa de fé, uma casa de ensino, uma casa de glória, uma casa de ordem, uma casa de Deus."

Desafio-os a que tornem seus lares um casa de Deus.

Em terceiro lugar - após o amor, a compreensão e a honestidade no casamento - creio que na ordem de importância, segue-se a estabilidade financeira da unidade familiar. Na divisão das responsabilidades, o Senhor designou essa função, de provedor da família, ao marido e pai. Uma família deve crescer com a reconfortante certeza de que, enquanto o pai possuir uma mente clara e um corpo forte, continuará a magnificar seus talentos e a desenvolver-se profissionalmente. Ele fará o melhor para preparar-se e desempenhar suas tarefas, de modo que possa sustentar a família a contento.

Pais, sejam honestos em seus negócios. Sejam leais a seus empregadores. Determinem-se a ser os melhores em seus campos de actividade. A cada dia, façam um esforço pleno para serem mais produtivos que foram no dia anterior. Desafio-os a serem os líderes em suas profissões e ocupações escolhidas.

Em quarto lugar, abraçamos o evangelho de Jesus Cristo. Desejosamente tomamos do arado. Aceitamos a obrigação de edificar o reino de Deus aqui na terra. As escrituras nos dizem: "Portanto, procurai com zelo os melhores dons; e eu vos mostrarei um caminho ainda mais excelente." (1 Corintíos 12:31). Certamente que apenas o padrão de excelência é a meta que devemos tentar conseguir, nas designações que temos ao serviço da Igreja. Desafio-os a, entusiasticamente, aceitarem chamados na Igreja e com diligência, fazerem todos os esforços para alcançarem o mais alto nível de realização.

Finalmente, nossos filhos merecem o direito de crescer em ambiente limpo e bom. Temos a obrigação e responsabilidade de lhes salvaguardar esse privilégio. Recebi uma carta interessantíssima de uma mãe, há vários meses atrás, relatando-me as horas de serviço em sua comunidade, como parte do compromisso com o Bicentenário. Uma parte da carta diz o seguinte: "Fui a uma reunião de pais e professores, antes do início do ano lectivo, e descobri que minha filha fora designada a ler determinado livro do sexto ano. Achei que deveria ler o livro antes, para ver se era desejável a meus filhos. Ao lê-lo, vi que era altamente indesejável para alunos do sexto ano. Continha profanidades, violência, desrespeito pelos adultos, especialmente os pais, e era, em geral, sombrio e deprimente. Nada continha de amor, beleza ou bondade. Debati acerca do livro com o director da escola, e disse-lhe das minhas preocupações. O director sugeriu que eu lesse toda a série de livros antes de condená-los, e se eu ainda me sentisse da mesma forma, deveria escrever uma carta a ele, dando razões e exemplos específicos das partes objectadas. Concordei com a sugestão e continuei lendo os outros livros, descobrindo que todos estavam em desacordo para nossos filhos. Senti-me compelida a escrever minha carta, mesmo antes de terminar o último volume da série. Fui gratificada, recebendo um telefonema do assistente do director da zona escolar, que solicitava o meu comparecimento a seu escritório. Ele me disse que não era norma terem livros contendo profanidades no primeiro ciclo, e que tais obras seriam imediatamente suprimidas do currículo. Disse-me que estejam tremendamente embaraçados com a ideia de que alguém tivesse que indicar-lhes quais os pontos objectáveis nos livros, e que iriam cuidar para que os examinadores no futuro fizessem um trabalho mais perfeito."

Temos sido abençoados com a luz do evangelho a nos guiar e dirigir nossas vidas. Através de nosso entendimento e estudo das escrituras, temos um conhecimento das leis do Senhor, pelas quais devemos governar nossa conduta terrena. Juntamente com essa grande bênção, vem-nos a obrigação de sermos parte da comunidade em que vivemos. Nossa influência deve ser sentida na salvaguarda dos padrões morais das vilas, cidades e metrópoles em que se localizam nossas casas, em qualquer lugar do mundo.

Desafio-os a se envolverem na tarefa de elevar os padrões morais das comunidades em que suas casas estão localizadas. Possa a luz do evangelho ajudar-nos a enxergar o grande potencial com que o Senhor nos abençoou. Existe poder na vida recta. Que possamos novamente nos comprometer a sermos praticantes e cumpridores da palavra - edificadores de qualidade no reino de nosso Pai dos céus. Que possam nossas vidas ser cheias de alegria pelas realizações. Possa nosso conhecimento do evangelho ajudar-nos a ser melhores, não importa o que o Senhor nos tenha chamado a ser. É esse o meu humilde desejo.

Neal A. Maxwell is a member of the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This fireside talk was given on 31 March 1991 in the Marriott Center.

I wish to talk about your unfinished journey. It is the journey of journeys and will be described quite differently this Easter night. It is an arduous journey. The trek awaits--whether one is rich or poor, short or tall, thin or fat, black or white or brown, old or young, shy or bold, married or single, a prodigal or an ever faithful. Compared to this journey, all other treks are but a brief walk in a mortal park or are merely time on a telestial treadmill.

Becoming Men and Women of Christ Your journey is embodied in an invitation from the resurrected Lord, who himself inquired, "What manner of men [and women] ought ye to be?" Then he directed, "Verily I say unto you, even as I am" (3 Nephi 27:27; emphasis added). Making this journey qualifies us eventually as the men and women of Christ. Confirming this developmental goal, the Prophet Joseph Smith declared, "If you wish to go where God is, you must be like God, or possess the principles which God possesses" (Teachings, p. 216). Peter, likewise, spoke of the manner of persons we ought to be in all godliness (see 2 Peter 3:11).

The scriptures provide the road map for this journey because it is the word of God that will lead the men and women of Christ in a straight and narrow course and land their immortal souls at the right hand of God (see Helaman 3:29-30).

Jesus, our guide and model, had a perfect guide and model himself: Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The, Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: -for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. [John 5:19]

Just what Jesus saw "the Father do," including premortally, we do not know, but Jesus was the perfect pupil and he had a Perfect Teacher! Each of us is at a particular point in the journey, having "come thus far." However, if we are deflected from this journey, we will, instead, become estranged from Christ:

For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart? [Mosiah 5:13]

If we are not serving Jesus, and if he is not in our thoughts and hearts, then the things of the world will draw us instead to them! Moreover, the things of the world need not be sinister in order to be diverting and consuming. For the serious disciple, the cardinal attributes exemplified by Jesus are not optional. These developmental milestones take the form of traits, traits that mark the trail to be traveled. After all, should not Latter-day Saints have a special interest in what is required to become a Saint, virtue by virtue and quality by quality? ear the words of King Benjamin:

And becometh a saint ... submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him. [Mosiah 3:19; emphasis added]

These attributes are eternal and portable! Being portable, to the degree developed, they will go with us through the veil of death, and still later they will rise with us in the Resurrection when all else stays behind. Meanwhile, so much of our time is ironically devoted to learning and marketing perishable skills that will soon become obsolete. It isn't just the morticians who will have a vocational crisis in the next world, brother and sisters.

Please note several additions to these key qualities:

And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things. [Alma 7:23; emphasis added]

Unsurprisingly, the disciple's way of using power and authority will reflect these same qualities, for he is to lead by persuasion, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, love unfeigned, and kindness (see D&C 121:41-42). Such should be our leadership style. It is certainly Jesus'!

Numerous other scriptures describe the same, small cluster of spiritual qualities that the men and women of Christ are to strive to achieve in their lives. When significantly developed, these qualities will convey the added "authority of example"! When you and I have seen that authority, we are filled with admiration for it. Since Christ also declared, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15), clear and specific obligations clearly rest upon us, especially when we ponder this next commandment, which, if we love him, we will strive to keep: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48).

The Greek rendering for "perfect" is, by the way, "complete, finished, fully developed." After his atonement and resurrection, Jesus included himself as our pattern. "Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect" (3 Nephi 12:48). One of the problems we have in the Church is that we consider perfection in abstraction, and it becomes too intimidating. But when we think of it in terms of the specific, cardinal attributes, and we strive to develop these in a steady process of self-improvement, it is quite a different matter.

Ponder this ancient self-description with its focus on attributes: And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. [Exodus 34:6; emphasis added]

When Jesus visited his hometown, the people wondered at his gracious words (see Luke 4:22). What is enjoined upon us is thus very specific. The specific qualities are made clear again and again in the scriptures. So is our need to follow the developmental path:

For I have given you all example, that ye should do as I have done to you. [John 13:15]

And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them. [2 Nephi 31:9]

These qualities are not only developmental destinations, but, meanwhile, if developed significantly, they also provide us with the balance urgently needed for traveling on the demanding narrow path! It is so easy to fall off one side or the other! The divine direction is clear: "Behold I am the light; I have set an example for you" (3 Nephi 18:16). Too often when we seek to excuse ourselves, it is, ironically, "the natural man" we are excusing. Yet scriptures inform us "the natural man" is to be "put off" (see Mosiah 3:19). "He" certainly should not be "kept on" because of a mistaken sense that the natural man constitutes our individuality. In this process, substance and style interplay constantly-more than we realize! How, for instance, can we be like the Father and Son if we are poor listeners? How can we become "even as [Jesus] is" if we are impatient or proud? The gospel gives proportion as to both substance and style. For example, it is far more important to be morally clean rather than to be a clean-desk individual. Similarly, it is better to "speak the truth in love," as Paul counsels, than it is to simply speak the truth (see Ephesians 4:15). These scriptural virtues are intertwined, interactive, and interdependent.

We are to be:

1. Meek and humble--not self-concerned, dismissive, proud, seeking ascendancy. Blessed are the meek because they are not easily offended. Besides, those who "shine as lights in the world" have no need to seek the spotlight! (See Philippians 2:15.) The world's spotlights are not only fleeting, but they employ inferior light!

2. Patient--not hectic, hurried, pushy.

3. Full of love--not demanding, dominating, manipulative, condescending, or harsh.

4. Gentle--not coarse, brusque, and vindictive.

5. Easily entreated--not unapproachable, inaccessible, and nonlistening.

6. Long-suffering--not impatient, disinterested, curt, easily offended. There are so many people in the Church, brothers and sisters, waiting to be offended. And it doesn't take long. If one has a chip on his or her shoulder, you can't make it through the foyer, so to speak, without getting it knocked off.

7. Submissive to God--not resistant to the Spirit, counsel, and life's lessons.

8. Temperate (self-restrained)--not egoistic, eager for attention and recognition, or too talkative. In your life and mine, the great moments of commendation and correction have come usually in one-liners.

9. Merciful--not judgmental and unforgiving. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall know the caress of causality as their forgiving mercy restores others to wholeness! Though God is perfected in the attributes of justice and mercy, we read that, finally, "Mercy overpowereth justice" (Alma 34:15).

10. Gracious--not tactless, easily irritated, ungenerous.

11. Holy--not worldly.

As we think about the process of becoming the men and women of Christ, questions may naturally arise, such as: "Will all the men and women of Christ be alike in every respect?" "Will there be a loss of individuality?" I think not. For instance, the quality of meekness is clearly essential, but there are many individual ways of expressing meekness. Furthermore, what we now defensively regard as constituting individuality is likely to be significantly refined.

An immense developmental clue is to be found in these next words:

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me" (Matthew 11:29).

By being yoked, we can best learn of Jesus' perfected qualities, though only in our comparatively small ways. If we are meek, through our smaller but similar experiences we will come to appreciate Jesus' perfected qualities even more. Then our adoration of him produces a desire for emulation of him.

The Prophet Joseph, whose own life was lived in a crescendo of self-improvement amid adversity, observed: The nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin; and like the ancients, [he] arrives at that point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker and is caught up to dwell with Him. But we consider that this is a station to which no man ever arrived in a moment. [Teachings, p. 51]

The clearer one's views, the more one sees "things as they really are," the greater the happiness! Thus, beyond the free gift of immortality, "working out our salvation" includes "working out" the development of these eternal virtues in our lives!

Given the tremendous importance of these virtues now and in the world to come, should we be surprised if, to hasten the process, the Lord gives us, individually, the relevant and necessary clinical experiences? We do not usually seek these, however. Yet they seem to come, don't they, even when we do not remember having signed up for a particular course? Sometimes we find ourselves enrolled again in the same course. Apparently we were only auditing before; perhaps this time it can be for credit!

Emerson pleaded, "Give me truths: for I am weary of the surfaces" ("Blight," in The Complete Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson [New York: Wm. H. Wise & Co., 19291, p. 874). While amid so much that is inane, and while surrounded by so many little and superficial things, it is only in the bright light of the restored gospel that we can see the truth as to who we really are and what our possibilities are! As Jacob wrote, we not only see things as they really are, but as they really will be (see Jacob 4:13).

The Lord loves each of us too much to merely let us go on being what we now are, for he knows what we have the possibility to become!

It is all part of the journey of going home. Developmentally, we are all prodigals. When we really "come to" ourselves, spiritually, we, too, will say with determination, "I will arise and go to my father" (Luke 15:18).

This true celebration of the risen Lord of Easter, therefore, is one of emulation as well as of adoration for him. Since he is risen from the grave, let us not be dead as to the things of the Spirit! How can we celebrate the empty tomb with empty lives? How can we celebrate his victory over death by being defeated by the world?

The Infinite Atonement

May I now speak further of Jesus, of the Resurrection, and of the Atonement? Christ's death and resurrection were specifically foretold in a multitude of scriptures, including this from Isaiah. Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. . . .and the earth shall cast out the dead. [Isaiah 26:19]

Ponder how that prophesy was later dramatically fulfilled as recorded by Matthew: And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. [Matthew 27:52-53]

As signified by Jesus' personal resurrection and the recognition of him by friends, immortality is not merely being one droplet in some floating sea of cosmic consciousness! Resurrection is not being a mere molecule in an unremembering cloud of drifting molecules! His resurrection was personal and recognizable. So will ours be! Did not the resurrected ancients go into Jerusalem and appear unto many?

Oh, how we adore Jesus for his atonement! For his free gift of immortality to all! Consider for a moment, how would we regard Christ without the reality of his atonement and resurrection? How would we regard the Sermon on the Mount without the resurrection of the sermon giver and eventually all of us? Without the reality of God's plan of salvation and Jesus' atonement, how could the meek truly inherit the earth? How could the pure in heart really see God? (See Matthew 5.)

No wonder Paul wrote of Christ, "in him all things hold together" (Revised Standard Version, Colossians 1:17). When, collectively or individually, brothers and sisters, things seem to fly apart for us at times, what fitting imagery: "In him all things hold together"! Given the centrality of the doctrine of resurrection, the Restoration has as one of its main purposes to witness not only of Jesus' resurrection, but that of all mankind.

And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men. [Moses 7:62]

There are so many ways in which Christ holds all things together. In fact, scriptures further advise, "all things bear record of me" (Moses 6:63). At Christmastime, for instance, we celebrate a special star that announced Jesus' birth at Bethlehem. Thus, the so-called "little star of Bethlehem" was actually very large in its declaration of divine design! It had to have been placed in its precise orbit long, long before it shone so precisely! Persuasive divine design is underscored in what the Lord has said: "All things must come to pass in their time" (D&C 64:32). His overseeing precision pertains not only to astrophysical orbits but to human orbits as well. This is such a stunning thing for us to contemplate as to our obligations to , "shine as lights" within our own orbits and personal responsibilities! (See Philippians 2:15.) In Jesus there is a unique blend of both meekness and majesty. Though the Lord of the Universe, Christ was meekly willing to live in this world, which he created under the Father's direction. In Paul's words, he agreed to reside on earth as a person of no reputation (see Philippians 2:7). We sing of his birth, "The stars in the heavens looked down where he lay" ("Away in a Manger," Hymns, 1985, no.206). The onlooking universe was apparently created by him under the Father's direction, involving "worlds without number" (Moses 1:33). Thus the meek Christ child was cradled not only in a manger but was also cradled in the midst of the majesty of his own creations! Even the least of these, when we contemplate the heavens, permits us to see God "moving in his majesty and power" (D&C 88:47). Do we not sing of "All the worlds thy hands have made"? (See "How Great Thou Art", Hymns, 1985, no. 86.)

In the Eastern Hemisphere, the special star that signaled his meek birth was recognized by only a few shepherds and several wise men. However, when Christ comes in majesty and power, the sign of his second coming will be such that "all people shall see it together" (D&C 88:93). He declares "all flesh shall see me together" (D&C 101:23). What an impending moment of unparalleled majesty for the Millennial Messiah. Yet it was preceded by the meekness of his Mortal Messiahship.

He created worlds, yet he was regarded as merely being a carpenter's son. He called and inspired Old Testament prophets. Yet Jesus was regarded by some contemporaries in the meridian of time as being less than those very prophets (see Luke 16:29; John 5:45-46; John 8:33, 37-38).

In his mortal ministry, meek Jesus spoke of how he had yet "other sheep" (John 10:16). Still later, when with those "other sheep" of the Nephite fold, he spoke of still "other sheep" (3 Nephi 16:1-3). How many folds and flocks does he have? We do not know. But there are inklings of his majesty, for "by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God" (D&C 76:24). Yet this Great and True Shepherd, in meekness, revealed to a solitary Samaritan woman that, indeed, he was the Messiah (see John 4:26; Helaman 15:13). Because Jesus was brilliant beyond our comprehension, he knew even premortally, though intellectually, what he was volunteering to do. Yet he had to experience it all personally--especially the awful agony of Gethsemane and Calvary. He who is "more intelligent than they all" is also more meek than they all! (See Abraham 3:19.) He went meekly forward and partook of the most bitter cup--and did so without becoming bitter!

Jesus descended below all things in order to be able to comprehend all things (see D&C 88:6; 122:8). Thus he is not only a fully atoning Savior but is a fully comprehending Savior as well! Christ somehow came to know--just as specifically prophesied--our griefs, sorrows, pains, sicknesses, afflictions, and infirmities (Isaiah 53:4; 2 Nephi 9:21; Mosiah 14:4). He did so, declared Alma, that he might know, according to the flesh, how to succor and to help us in the midst of our infirmities (see Alma 7:11-12).

Only in restoration scriptures--specifically the Book of Mormon--is Jesus' atonement referred to as the "infinite atonement" (2 Nephi 9:7; 25:16; Alma 34:12).

It was "infinite" in several dimensions. First, in what is called the "great and last sacrifice," the sacrifice of a mere animal or an imperfect mortal would not do. It required the sacrifice of an infinite being, an eternal and sinless God (see Alma 34:10). Jesus, you will recall, volunteered premortally: "Here am I, send me" (Abraham 3:27). Never has any one offered to do so much for so many with so few words! As an infinite being, Jesus had the unique power to put down and take up his life.

Jesus' atonement also had infinite impact affecting all mankind (see 2 Nephi 25:16). "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:22).

Third, his atonement involved infinite suffering--suffering beyond our comprehension (see D&C 19:18). I will note especially some of his suffering. The Atonement fulfills many prophesies. Jesus was to be spat upon (see 1 Nephi 19:9), struck, scourged (see Mosiah 3:9). He would be given vinegar and gall (see Psalms 69:21). He would issue a soul cry, the very words of which were prophesied by David in a Messianic psalm (see Psalms 22:1; Matthew 27:46). None of his bones was to be broken (see Psalms 34:20).

We begin to see in the scriptures the weight of the Atonement burdening him shortly before Gethsemane and Calvary: Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. [John 12:27]

The full weight fell upon him when he entered the Garden of Gethsemane, where he "fell on the ground" (Mark 14:33-36). At one point in the process an angel appeared to strengthen him (see Luke 22:43). The keenest of all intellects to ever grace this planet endured sufferings that were worse than even he, with his unexcelled brilliance, had ever imagined. Hence he was "sore amazed" or, in the Greek, "astonished," " awestruck" (Mark 14:33). He became " very heavy," which, in the Greek means, "depressed and dejected." When in the garden, he issued "the Abba cry" (Mark 14:36; Psalms 22:1). It was the most intimate, familial cry of a child in the deepest of distress for his father.

All the cumulative weight of our sins--the whole human family--fell upon him. He, and he alone, bore them! Thus he is able to say, "I have overcome and have trodden the wine-press alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God" (D&C 76:107; 88:106). This would include all the penalties that a God who cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance would require (see D&C 1:31). Could there be any wrath more fierce than divine wrath? Especially as Jesus encountered cumulative, mortal grossness including the vilest of all human sins? Jesus bore them.

Indeed, Christ was alone, for "there was none with me" (Isaiah 63:3; D&C 133:50). His astonishing, personal triumph was complete. Yet he who premortally had promised he would give glory to our Father kept that promise, saying after accomplishing the Atonement, "Nevertheless, glory be to the Father" (D&C 19:19; Moses 4:2).

Several years ago, Christian physicians, writing in the Journal of American Medicine, indicated they felt that, because of the loss of blood when he was scourged, Jesus would have been in serious, if not critical condition before he ever carried a portion of his cross to Calvary. Other scholars say Jesus was likely scourged with a Roman flagellum, something similar to a cat-o'nine-tails with metallic objects at the end of each thong. If he assumed the usual posture for scourging, it would have been kneeling over before his scourger so that the muscles of his back were tensed and thus more easily torn and shredded. He would have lost much blood in addition to what he lost earlier while bleeding from every pore in Gethsemane. No wonder he needed help to carry the cross!

Jesus bore all mortal sins, mankind's cumulative total. Thus Jesus, of his suffering, truly could later say that "he descended below all things" (D&C 88:6).

The requirements of divine justice were severe. According to Elder James Talmage, in order "that the supreme sacrifice of the Son might be consummated in all its fulness, the Father seems to have withdrawn the support of His immediate Presence [while Jesus was on the cross], leaving to the Savior of men the glory of complete victory over the forces of sin and death" Jesus the Christ, 3rd ed. [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 19161, p. 661). What an awful and awesome aloneness! What deprivation, especially after the special and extended closeness of Father and Son!

On the cross, there came from Christ the soul-rending cry, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46; see also Psalms 22:1). What awful aloneness! Is it possible that Jesus needed to suffer and experience aloneness not only so his personal triumph would be total, but also so that he might "know according to the flesh" how it is for us to feel forsaken? (See Alma 7:11-12.) In any case, he felt forsaken and alone.

Compared to his feeling forsaken, what are our occasional feelings of being forsaken and alone? Or our feelings of being unnoticed and unappreciated? Or our deprivations?

All this emptying agony preceded the empty tomb, which signified the glorious resurrection. In his comments after the awful atonement, he uses words like "sore" and "exquisite." Jesus tells us that he suffered "both body and spirit" (D&C 19:1819). He does not even mention having been spat upon, struck, receiving vinegar and gall, being scourged, etc. He does say that he trembled because of pain and would that he might not shrink, that he might not fail to partake fully of the bitter cup and finish the Atonement (see D&C 19:18). As already indicated, he partook of the bitter cup and did so without becoming bitter! Mercifully for all of us, he did not shrink!

And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning. [3 Nephi 11:11]

I have overcome and have trodden the wine-press alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God. [D&C 76:107]

Thus he became our fully comprehending and fully atoning Savior. No wonder we sing of him, "How great thou art!" (Hymns, 1985, no. 86).

Why did he do it?

And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men. [1 Nephi 19:9; emphasis added] Ponder the term loving-kindness. It is a special word, used in David's plea after he sinned so grievously:

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. [Psalms 51:1; emphasis added]

Hold that special word in your minds as I read in conclusion these verses about his coming majesty: And it shall be said: Who is this that cometh down from God in heaven with dyed garments; yea, from the regions which are not known, clothed in his glorious apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength? . . . And the Lord shall be red in his apparel, and his garments like him that treadeth in the wine-vat. And so great shall be the glory of his presence that the sun shall hide his face in shame, and the moon shall withhold its light, and the stars shall be hurled from their places. And his voice shall be heard: I have trodden the wine-press alone, and have brought judgment upon all people; and none were with me; . . . And now the year of my redeemed is come; and they shall mention the loving kindness of their Lord, and all that he has bestowed upon them according to his goodness, and according to his loving kindness, forever and ever. [D&C 133:46, 48-50, 52; emphasis added]

Blessed be the Father for his loving-kindness in giving his Only Begotten as Our Redeemer! We do not know, nor could we appreciate if we did, the feelings of the Father as he watched his firstborn go through the Atonement. How great our Father is. Blessed be the Son, Jesus Christ, for his loving-kindness in atoning for our sins. I "scarce can take it in" ("How Great Thou Art"). Whenever you and I witness and experience in a human being impressive loving-kindness, we marvel--and we should marvel. But such highly developed loving-kindness is still not closely comparable to Jesus' loving-kindness. So it is with each of his qualities about which I have spoken tonight. When we are fortunate enough to experience the stirring samples of likeness, these are real and wonderful experiences, but they are not yet fullness. They are not yet the fullness found in Jesus. Even so, he of fullness clearly and kindly beckons us to develop that greater likeness in our lives which precedes fullness. It is that likeness that will give us the light in our lives so that we might, as Paul says, "shine as lights in the world." These are the attributes that convey to us the added authority of example. And as we emulate him, by developing likeness in these attributes, he will bless us and magnify us for his purposes.

My quorum president, President Howard W. Hunter, said twenty-six years ago in April general conference, "He loves the Lord with all his heart, who loves nothing in comparison of him and nothing but in reference to him."

As one of his special witnesses, I testify to you tonight that he is risen. And how marvelous it is, even given the great distance of the trek spoken of earlier, that he beckons us to develop this likeness so that one day we may have fullness with him. It is the journey of journeys. Nothing else is even remotely comparable to it in its importance. There is nothing in comparison of him. Indeed, as Paul said, "in Christ all things hold together." That is my witness to you on this Easter night, the reality of his mercy, the genuineness of his loving-kindness. He has said to us, "What manner of men [and women] ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am" (3 Nephi 27:27). What an invitation! That invitation verifies the possibility of its realization.

I salute you for who you are, but, more important, for what you have the possibilities to become. There is none like him. And as he has said to us in the marvelous imagery of holy scriptures, "I wait for you with open arms." But it is we who must go to him in this journey of journeys.

Finally, I witness to you the reality of the great Atonement. It is the central act of all human history. Nothing else even remotely approaches it in terms of significance. The meek Jesus says: "Here am I, send me." Jesus will come in majesty, and we will hail him for his loving-kindness. If we love him, we must so love one another. He is risen, and the symbol of Christianity might well be the empty tomb that bespeaks the fullness of the great Atonement of which I testify to you tonight in love and in appreciation and in recognition of who you really are. I bear this witness to you humbly, lovingly, but, most important, in the holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

O Presidente Gordon B. Hinckley declarou: "Estamos vivendo a maior era de construção de templos que já se viu. A obra sagrada e importante que se realiza dentro do templo tem de ser acelerada, e para que isto aconteça, é necessário que se edifiquem templos mais perto do povo, em vez de este ter de viajar grandes distâncias para chegar a um templo (...). Esses templos estão aqui para serem usados, e aqueles que os usam, receberão uma bênção de paz em sua vida. Achegar-se-ão mais ao Senhor, e o Senhor a eles." (Liahona, janeiro 1986)

Devemos Estar Preparados e Ser Dignos de Entrar no Templo

O templo é a casa do Senhor; um local sagrado onde se dão instruções especiais, realizam-se ordenanças essenciais para a exaltação e fazem-se convénios com o Senhor. Devido à natureza sagrada das instruções oferecidas no templo e ordenanças ali realizadas, aqueles que lá entram para recebê-las devem estar preparados e ser dignos. Apenas os membros da Igreja portadores de recomendação actualizada são admitidos nesses locais sagrados. O bispo ou o presidente do ramo e um membro da presidência da estaca ou missão, conduzem entrevistas para determinar a preparação e dignidade espiritual dos membros para entrarem no templo. Esses homens representam o Senhor nessas entrevistas; ser honesto com eles, é o mesmo que ser honesto com o Senhor. Esta entrevista proporciona a oportunidade de dizer aos lideres eclesiásticos se está inteiramente digno de entrar na casa do Senhor. Ser digno, entretanto, não quer dizer que seja perfeito ou que tenha vencido todas as falhas. O objectivo da entrevista é determinar se está isento de transgressões graves, tem um espirito contrito e o desejo de praticar o bem, e se procura sinceramente viver em retidão. O Elder ElRay L. Christiansen comentou: "Se achais que sois digno, e se o bispo tem o discernimento de que o sois e vos dá uma recomendação; se tendes fé, desejos justos e confiais no Senhor, então podereis desfrutar de uma das experiências mais maravilhosas da vossa vida na casa do Senhor."

O Templo É um Edifício Sagrado Onde o Senhor Dá Instrução e Abençoa Seu Povo

O Profeta Joseph Smith ensinou que a razão principal para ser realizada a "coligação dos judeus ou o povo de Deus, em qualquer época do mundo... foi edificar uma casa ao Senhor, na qual revelaria a Seu povo as ordenanças de Sua casa e as glórias de Seu Reino, ensinando às pessoas o caminho da salvação; porque há certas ordenanças e princípios que, para serem ensinados e praticados, devem ser efectuados em um lugar ou casa edificada para tal propósito." (Ensinamentos do Profeta Joseph Smith). O Élder John Widtsoe disse que o templo é "um local de instrução do sacerdócio, de paz, de convénios, de bênçãos e revelação. Nosso coração deve transbordar de gratidão por podermos receber esse privilégio de possuir o espirito dessa ocasião tão sagrada." Uma das ordenanças que recebemos no templo é chamada de investidura. A palavra investidura significa um legado ou um dom. O Presidente Brigham Young resumiu a investidura quando explicou: "Vossa investidura é receber todas as ordenanças na Casa do Senhor, que são necessárias para que possais, depois de haverdes deixado esta vida, caminhar de volta à presença do Pai, passando pelos anjos que estão de sentinela, podendo apresentar-lhes as palavras-chave, os sinais e símbolos pertencentes ao santo sacerdócio e ganhar a vossa exaltação eterna, a despeito da terra e do inferno." (Discursos de Brigham Young, pg. 416) "As ordenanças da investidura incluem certas obrigações por parte do indivíduo, tal como o convénio e promessa de observar a lei da perfeita virtude e castidade, de ser caritativo, benevolente, tolerante e puro; de devotar tanto os talentos como os meios materiais à propagação da verdade e enaltecimento do ser; de manter devoção à causa da verdade; e de procurar, por todos os meios, contribuir para a grandiosa preparação, a fim de que a Terra esteja pronta para receber Seu Rei. O Senhor Jesus Cristo. Junto com cada convénio e aceitação de cada obrigação, é pronunciada uma promessa de bênção dependendo da fiel observância das condições. Nem um jota ou til, ou traço dos rituais do templo tem outra finalidade, senão a de enaltecimento e santificação. Em cada detalhe, a cerimónia da investidura contribui para uma vida de moralidade, consagração da pessoa aos ideais elevados, devoção à verdade, e fidelidade a Deus. (James Talmage, "Casa do Senhor", pg. 75)

As Ordenanças do Templo Abençoam Tanto os Vivos Como os Mortos

Porque Deus não faz acepção de pessoas, as ordenanças do templo também são levadas àquelas que morreram sem o privilégio de conhecer o evangelho. O Presidente Gordon B. Hinckley explicou. " Através de representantes vivos que actuam em favor dos mortos, as mesmas ordenanças são colocadas à disposição daqueles que faleceram. No mundo espiritual, eles têm a liberdade de aceitar ou recusar as ordenanças terrenas realizadas em seu beneficio, inclusive o baptismo, casamento e selamento num vínculo familiar eterno." Após recebermos as ordenanças do templo em nosso favor, devemos voltar regularmente a ele e participar dessa obra sagrada. Fazendo isto, não somente proporcionamos áqueles que já morreram a oportunidade de receber essas ordenanças, como também nos aproximamos mais do Senhor, aumentamos nosso conhecimento da verdade, passando a entender mais profundamente os convénios que fizemos. Ao considerarmos nossa preparação e dignidade para entrar no templo, devemos recordar as palavras do Elder Boyd K. Packer, que disse: "O que obtemos do templo dependerá em grande parte do que levamos ao templo em termos de humildade e reverência e desejo de aprender. Se somos dóceis seremos ensinados pelo Espirito no templo" (The Holy Temple, p. 42)

A PRIMEIRA PRESIDÊNCIA E O CONSELHO DOS DOZE APÓSTOLOS DE A IGREJA DE JESUS CRISTO DOS SANTOS DOS ULTIMOS DIAS

NÓS, A PRIMEIRA PRESIDÊNCIA e o Conselho dos Doze Apóstolos de A Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Últimos Dias, solenemente proclamamos que o casamento entre homem e mulher foi ordenado por Deus e que a família é essencial ao plano do Criador para o destino eterno de Seus filhos.

TODOS OS SERES HUMANOS - homem e mulher - foram criados à imagem de Deus. Cada indivíduo é um filho (ou filha) gerado em espírito por pais celestiais que o amam e, como tal, possui natureza e destino divinos. O sexo (masculino ou feminino) é uma característica essencial da identidade e do propósito pré-mortal, mortal e eterno de cada um.

NA ESFERA PRÉ-MORTAL, os filhos e filhas que foram gerados em espírito conheciam e adoravam a Deus como seu Pai Eterno e aceitaram Seu plano, segundo o qual Seus filhos poderiam obter um corpo físico e obter experiência terrena a fim de progredirem rumo à perfeição, terminando por alcançar seu destino divino como herdeiros da vida eterna. O plano divino de felicidade permite que os relacionamentos familiares sejam perpetuados para além da morte. As ordenanças e os convénios sagrados dos templos santos permitem que as pessoas retornem à presença de Deus e que as famílias sejam unidas para sempre.

O PRIMEIRO MANDAMENTO dado a Adão e Eva por Deus referia-se ao potencial de tornarem-se pais, na condição de marido e mulher. Declaramos que o mandamento dado por Deus a Seus filhos, de multiplicarem-se e encherem a terra, continua em vigor. Declaramos também que Deus ordenou que os poderes sagrados de procriação sejam empregados somente entre homem e mulher, legalmente casados.

DECLARAMOS que o meio pelo qual a vida mortal é criada foi estabelecido por Deus. Afirmamos a santidade da vida e sua importância no plano eterno de Deus.

O MARIDO E A MULHER têm a solene responsabilidade de amar-se mutuamente e amar os filhos, e de cuidar um do outro e dos filhos. "Os filhos são herança do Senhor" (Salmos 127:3). Os pais têm o sagrado dever de criar os filhos com amor e rectidão, atender a suas necessidades físicas e espirituais, ensiná-los a amar e servir uns aos outros, guardar os mandamentos de Deus e ser cidadãos cumpridores da lei, onde quer que morem. O marido e a mulher - o pai e a mãe - serão considerados responsáveis perante Deus pelo cumprimento dessas obrigações.

A FAMÍLIA foi ordenada por Deus. O casamento entre o homem e a mulher é essencial para Seu plano eterno. Os filhos têm o direito de nascer dentro dos laços do matrimónio e de ser criados por pai e mãe que honrem os votos matrimoniais como total fidelidade. A felicidade na vida familiar é mais provável de ser alcançada quando fundamentada nos ensinamentos do Senhor Jesus Cristo. O casamento e a família bem sucedidos são estabelecidos e mantidos sob os princípios da fé, da oração, do arrependimento, do respeito, do amor, da compaixão, do trabalho e de actividades recreativas salutares. Segundo o modelo divino, o pai deve presidir a família com amor e rectidão, tendo a responsabilidade de atender às necessidades de seus familiares e de protegê-los. A responsabilidade primordial da mãe é cuidar dos filhos. Nestas atribuições sagradas, o pai e a mãe têm a obrigação de ajudar-se mutuamente, como parceiros iguais. Enfermidades, falecimentos ou outras circunstâncias podem exigir adaptações específicas. Outros parentes devem oferecer ajuda quando necessário.

ADVERTIMOS que as pessoas que violam os convénios de castidade, que maltratam o cônjuge ou os filhos, ou que deixam de cumprir suas responsabilidades familiares, deverão um dia responder perante Deus pelo cumprimento dessas obrigações. Advertimos também que a desintegração da família fará recair sobre pessoas, comunidades e nações as calamidades preditas pelos profetas antigos e modernos.

CONCLAMAMOS os cidadãos e governantes responsáveis de todo o mundo a promoverem as medidas designadas para manter e fortalecer a família como a unidade fundamental da sociedade.

Esta proclamação foi lida pelo Presidente Gordon B. Hinckley como parte de sua mensagem na Reunião Geral da Sociedade de Socorro, realizada em 23 de Setembro de 1995 na Cidade de Salt Lake, Estado de Utah.

Strength in Adversity

Brothers and sisters, this is indeed an honor to be back at BYU. It is an honor to be seated next to your president. I have had the opportunity of working with him, not only as he served as Presiding Bishop but also as a member of the Quorums of the Seventy. You are greatly blessed to have President Merrill J. Bateman as the president of this university. I am honored today to have our family here. We are lacking two of our sons, but the rest of the family is here with us. I see in the audience a number of you who were missionaries in Brazil when we served together there. Could I see just how many of you here were serving as missionaries when we were there together? It is good to see you here. I am honored to know that President Helvecio Martins, who served with me in the Brazilian Area Presidency, is seated in the audience. He is a man I have learned to love deeply and respect greatly.

Sister Hillam and I have great memories of BYU. When I returned from my first mission, we dated here at BYU for a year and were married at the end of the school year. In fact, we were married on a Thursday, and my wife, Carol, graduated on Friday. On Saturday morning I had to report to work on a farm, and so our honeymoon, I guess you could say, was her graduation at BYU. She always reminds me that she has not had a honeymoon yet, and no matter where we go, no matter how lovely a place it is, she always says, "Well, this isn't the honeymoon yet."

Not too long ago a lady came to my office to explain to me all of the problems that she was having in her life. Basically, she said, "But, why me? Why now? Why so many problems? Why is the Lord chastising me so?"

I would like to give you my answers to some of those questions. Obviously, I cannot discuss all the details, but I would like you to think with me on this matter. Of course, some of the misfortunes we have we bring on ourselves because of our unwise decisions. Because of things we do not do well, we suffer the consequences. However, we cannot seem to explain some misfortunes; some problems just seem to happen. It is those problems that I would like to talk about today.

After Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, the Lord spoke to them:

And Adam and Eve, his wife, called upon the name of the Lord, and they heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the Garden of Eden, speaking unto them, and they saw him not; for they were shut out from his presence.

And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord.

And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.

And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.

Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore. [Moses 5:4­p;8; emphasis added]

The phrase that I would like to recall now is "This thing is a similitude." Looking up the word similitude in the dictionary, we see that it means similarity, resemblance, likeness, one closely resembling another, perceptible likeness, like unto. The Lord then told Adam and Eve that this would be something similar to, that there was a resemblance, that there was a likeness unto the sacrifice of the Savior.

I would like to go now to Abraham and Isaac, to the time when the Lord appeared and gave a
commandment to Abraham:

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham [the word tempt meaning God tested him, he tried him, or put him to proof], and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. [Genesis 22:1­p;2]

Can you imagine how this must have stricken Abraham in his heart? "The son I love so much, and I am to take him and I am to sacrifice him and then to make of him a burnt offering!" Sometimes we may think of that and say, "Well, that is the way it was." But we must think of it as Abraham and a son that he loved dearly. Some of you may have sons and daughters. You know how that would hurt--to think that you were to offer him or her as a sacrifice. But the next verse tells me something of Abraham:

And Abraham rose up early in the morning . . . , and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. [Genesis 22:3]

Abraham was a very obedient, trusting servant of our Father in Heaven.

As I continue, you might see some of the similarities between Abraham offering his son and our Heavenly Father offering his Son:

Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.

And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here . . . ; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood [you see, they had to carry the fire in a bucket or in some container; they didn't have the matches that we are familiar with]: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. [Genesis 22:4­p;8]

Can you imagine what Abraham was feeling? In the scriptures it almost sounds somewhat mechanical. I can almost imagine that when Abraham answered, he answered with tears in his voice: "God will provide himself a lamb."

And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. [Genesis 22:9­p;12]

If you were to ask the world why the Lord asked Abraham to do that, they probably would say it was to test his obedience. The world would not know that it was in similitude of God and his Son, and we would not know it if it were not for the Book of Mormon. Jacob tells us that Abraham was "obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son" (Jacob 4:5; emphasis added). Abraham had an experience that was almost the same as that of God and his Son, Jesus Christ. Abraham knew perhaps more than any person what God the Father was going through and what was happening to Jesus, his Son.

I would like to go now to a vision of the Prophet Joseph F. Smith. You recall that section 138 of the Doctrine and Covenants records a vision given to President Smith. He was pondering about the gospel being preached to the people after the Crucifixion of the Savior.

While I was thus engaged, my mind reverted to the writings of the apostle Peter, to the primitive saints scattered abroad throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, and other parts of Asia, where the gospel had been preached after the crucifixion of the Lord. [D&C 138:5]

President Smith saw the people that lived after the Crucifixion, after the sacrifice of animals was discontinued. Here is what he recorded:

As I pondered over these things which are written, the eyes of my understanding were opened, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, and I saw the hosts of the dead, both small and great.

And there were gathered together in one place an innumerable company of the spirits of the just, who had been faithful in the testimony of Jesus while they lived in mortality. [D&C 138:11­p;12]

These were they who had lived on this earth after the Crucifixion.

And who had offered sacrifice in the similitude of the great sacrifice of the Son of God, and had suffered tribulation in their Redeemer's name. [D&C 138:13; emphasis added]

We have seen three different references to similitude: Adam and Eve, when they were commanded to offer up animal sacrifice; Abraham, in similitude, being willing to offer up his son Isaac; and the Saints in the primitive Church, who are in a special, blessed condition because of their sacrifice in similitude.

What are the sacrifices that might be in similitude of the Atonement, the most important event that has ever happened in the history of all the universe? Christ suffered more than we can contemplate. He descended below anything that we know. He took "upon him the pain and the sicknesses of his people." He suffered physically, mentally, and spiritually. There is no suffering that we know of that the Savior did not know, that he did not feel, that he did not pass through during that time (see Alma 7:11­p;12).

We will have opportunities to be called upon to suffer. There will be times when we will have feelings of hurt and pain--physical and mental as well as spiritual--and then we will know what adversity is, and we will know a little better what Jesus Christ might have suffered, and we will have done in similitude that which Jesus Christ did.

What does this mean to us? We will know Jesus better. It also means that when we are called on to suffer, when we have afflictions in our lives, we will know that we are not alone. The Savior has already passed through those times. As we partake of the sacrament, we might be able to understand the sufferings of the Savior as we remember our own challenges, pains, hurts, and adversities. We might be able to understand that in similitude it is somewhat the same as what Abraham, Isaac, Adam and Eve, and Joseph F. Smith understood.

I had an occasion one time as a stake president to have a man come to me and tell me of some serious things that had happened in his life. He knew that he had not done well. He knew that a disciplinary council should be held. And he knew that it would happen. The discipline was determined, and the man was absolutely faithful. He complied with every condition imposed by that council. As time passed, he came in and we visited. It was not easy for him. The Lord was training him, he was preparing him. This man knew what adversity was. He turned to the scriptures. He found comfort as he read of the Savior and others who had passed through those periods of adversity, and then he knelt in mighty prayer. He went to our Father in Heaven and pled with him during those times of anguish. The day finally came when he was baptized again, and he had his blessings restored. Then came an experience that I will never forget. As we met one more time, he said, with tears in his eyes, "I used to know about the Savior. I used to read about him; now I know him. I know Jesus Christ. He is my Redeemer." I don't know of any person that I have met who knew the Savior better. The only thing I felt bad about is that he had to go through all that to know him. I would pray that in our activities and in our trials we would not have to go that far to get to know the Savior.

In speaking of adversity, could I just tell you now that it is one of those things that is going to happen in your life and in my life. We are all going to pass through adversity. It is a requirement. I have often asked myself who really is going to be in the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ, to live eternally with them and with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and with Nephi and Alma and Abinadi and Mormon and Moroni, and with Joseph Smith and many of the great Saints who sacrificed as they walked across the plains to these valleys in the West. Who really is going to be with them? I have determined it is not going to be those who sit doing nothing. I guess we get in the habit of calling them "couch potatoes." I don't think it is going to be them. I know it is not. Let me read what the Lord told us:

Yet I will own them, and they shall be mine in that day when I shall come to make up my jewels.

Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son. [D&C 101:3­p;4]

The Lord is talking about the members of his church. We will be tried as was Abraham. "For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified" (D&C 101:5).

My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom. [D&C 136:31]

Brothers and sisters, we all will have that opportunity. The Lord is going to tutor us. He is going to train us and he is going to prepare us. Elder Maxwell said, "God, as a loving Father, will stretch our souls at times. The soul is like a violin string: it makes music only when it is stretched. (Eric Hoffer.) God will tutor us by trying us because He loves us, not because of indifference!" (Neal A. Maxwell, All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1979], p. 28; emphasis in original). We will know of God's love when we have that tutoring.

Now, when the trials come, what should we do? First of all, we must resist murmuring. We must not criticize or rise up against our Heavenly Father. We should study the scriptures so that we know the doctrine and receive from it that comfort that only our Heavenly Father can give. As the man I mentioned who knew Jesus Christ, we should pray mightily. We should be on our knees constantly so that we can receive from our Heavenly Father the assurance that this is part of our trial. Then we should seek to recognize our need to be tutored. We do not know what Heavenly Father has in store for us.

I recall a little story that Sister Hillam used to tell:

Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of--throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. [George MacDonald, cited in C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: Macmillan, 1960), p. 160]

Elder Hugh B. Brown shared a story that illustrates that God knows best:

I was living up in Canada. I had purchased a farm. It was run-down. I went out one morning and saw a currant bush. It had grown up over six feet high. It was going all to wood. There were no blossoms and no currants. I was raised on a fruit farm in Salt Lake before we went to Canada, and I knew what ought to happen to that currant bush. So I got some pruning shears and went after it, and I cut it down, and pruned it, and clipped it back until there was nothing left but a little clump of stumps. It was just coming daylight, and I thought I saw on top of each of these little stumps what appeared to be a tear, and I thought the currant bush was crying. . . . I looked at it, and smiled, and said, "What are you crying about?" You know, I thought I heard that currant bush talk. And I thought I heard it say this: "How could you do this to me? . . . I thought you were the gardener here." . . . I said, "Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. . . . And some day, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, `Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down, for caring enough about me to hurt me. Thank you, Mr. Gardener." [Hugh B. Brown, "The Currant Bush," New Era, January 1973, pp. 14­p;15; emphasis in original]

I pray that we will think upon the Savior and know we are not alone. He passed that way before, and he will give us that comfort. I pray that we will understand what the Lord taught the Prophet Joseph Smith. You recall that the Prophet had been in Liberty Jail for many months, including cold winter months. Much of the time he was under a part of the jail while passing through this tribulation. We know that the ceiling was not high enough that he could stand erect. He had to walk bent over. There are many other things we could say about the adversities he faced. He was away from the Church, away from the Saints, away from his family, and he was not allowed to have visitors constantly or to be about his Father in Heaven's business. But the Lord had the Prophet where he could speak to him. I think some of the most glorious revelations were given to the Prophet at that time. The revelation on leadership (see D&C 121:34­p;46) is probably the most priceless document we have on leadership.

The Lord said to the Prophet Joseph Smith:

If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea;

If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can't you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb;

And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he? [D&C 122:5­p;8; emphasis added]

I pray, brothers and sisters, that when the adversities come--and, as I have mentioned, they will--we might respond to our Father in Heaven, saying, "I am not sure why I am having this adversity at this time or at this intensity. I know I will have something to learn. Help me to endure. Just help me to endure this trial that I have." Then maybe, like the Savior, we will say: "Not my will, but thine" (Luke 22:42). I pray, brothers and sisters, that we might always be able to remember: It is "for thy good. . . . Art thou greater than he?"

I pray that the Lord's blessings will be with us as we are proven, as we are tried, as we go into that crucible of adversity, that we will know there is always going to be the brighter day, and the brightest day will be the day when, if we stay true and faithful and we understand, we can enter into the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ. How glorious it would be if we could have the Judge who will judge us all, Jesus Christ, stand at our side, being our advocate, our defender, our attorney with our Father in Heaven, and have Jesus Christ say to the Father, "Have mercy on him. He defended my name, he was valiant, he was one of my servants. Have mercy on him, let him live with us throughout the eternities."

This I pray, and I ask it humbly, in the name of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

<sup>Elder Harold G. Hillam was sustained as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy in April 1991, having previously served as a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy and as president of the Brazil Area of the Church.

Elder Hillam attended Ricks College and BYU before graduating from Northwestern University Dental School. He received the honorary Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Award and went on to specialize in orthodontics, graduating with honors. He has served as president of the Idaho Falls Dental Society, as president of the Idaho State Orthodontic Society, on the board of directors of the Rocky Mountain Society of Orthodontists, and as president of the Teton Peaks Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

His past Church leadership positions include service as a Regional Representative in Portugal and at the same time in Idaho for the Rexburg, Ricks College, and St. Anthony Regions. He also served as Regional Representative to the Idaho Falls and Pocatello Regions. He has presided over the Portugal Lisbon Mission, has been a counselor in a stake presidency, has twice been a bishop's counselor, and has filled a full-time mission to Brazil.

He and his wife, Carol Lois Rasmussen Hillam, are the parents of seven children and 13 grandchildren.</sup>

^{Este discurso foi apresentado no Devocional da BYU em 25 de Junho de 1996.}

Russell M. Nelson is a member of the Council of the Twelve of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This fireside address was delivered on 6 January 1991 in the Mariott Center.

Sister Nelson and I are happy to be with you. I convey love and best wishes for a happy New Year from the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve. We express our gratitude to Presidents Rex E. Lee and Kerry Romesburg, their companions, and members of their faculty and staff from both Brigham Young University and Utah Valley Community College for their marvelous service. And we express appreciation to our Regional Representative, stake presidents, and their partners here tonight. We are especially delighted to be with you students. You recognize, as we do, that you are a fortunate few. Many more throughout the world would give anything to be where you are. Many have been called to military duty elsewhere in the world. They would gladly trade places with you. Surely our prayers are for peace and for each individual on assignment away from family and loved ones at this time.

We have so much for which we can be thankful. This is the first Sunday of a new year. Nineteen-ninety has been most historic. In what was known a few months ago as the German Democratic Republic, missionaries are now reaping a rich harvest in a unified Federal Republic of Germany. Many new missions were created, including those in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Greece. And in lesser numbers, wonderful servants of the Lord labor as his representatives in Yugoslavia, Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, and Russia. None of this was so when I was here a year ago. The year 1991 promises to be equally exciting in this rapidly growing church (see D&C 65:2). Each of us, if properly prepared, can play an important part in fulfilling its divine destiny.

I hope my message tonight will help us and the Church to realize our remarkable individual and institutional potential. The title chosen for my message is "Standards of Standard-Bearers of the Lord." You will note there are three parts to the title. I would like to discuss the last mentioned first, because the Lord is the chief cornerstone on which this Church is based. Next, I should like to discuss his standard-bearers. Finally, I should like to discuss his standards.

The Lord and His Atonement

Let us first contemplate the Lord Jesus Christ and his atonement. In a very real way, it affects each of our lives and the lives of every human being who ever lived. Understanding the significance of his atonement is fundamental to choices we make in all facets of our lives. The atonement of the Lord is central to our faith (see Teachings, p. 121). We are scripturally bound to study it and to teach it. From the book of Moses, may I quote these words of God:

I give unto you a commandment, to teach these things freely unto your children, saying: That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the [atoning] blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory; For by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified; Therefore it is given to abide in you. [Moses 6:58-61]

But before one can comprehend the atonement of Christ, one must first understand the fall of Adam. And before one can comprehend the fall of Adam, one must first understand the Creation. These three pillars of eternity relate to one another.

In the beginning God created the earth and all that was upon it. He created man in his own image, male and female created he them (see Genesis 1:27; 5:2; D&C 20:18; Moses 2:27; 6:9). Adam and Eve were first created with bodies of flesh and spirit, without blood, and were unable to die or beget children. Thus we might describe this as a paradisiacal creation, one that initially equipped Adam and Eve to live in the Garden of Eden, which was in a state of everlasting paradise (see Moses 4:28). Adam and Eve's subsequent fall effected a change upon their bodies. Although I don't understand completely the chemistry of that change, somehow it permitted blood to circulate in their veins. It provided for processes of aging and death to come upon their tabernacles of flesh. And in a marvelous manner, it allowed the blessing of procreation, so that myriads of awaiting spirits could be born and thus obtain mortal bodies. The fall was a necessary part of Heavenly Father's plan for his children. Indeed, "Adam fell that men might be, and men are, that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25). The so-called fall of Adam might thus be termed the mortal creation. It allowed mankind to attain and endure the mortal experience, to enjoy posterity, and then to leave this period of probation through the portal of death.

Adam and Eve's fall, however, and subsequent sins of their posterity, cut mankind off from the presence of God. An atonement, or reconciliation, had to be made. And only God could make it. Even before the Creation was completed, the premortal Jehovah understood the need for an atonement. Even before breath was put into the man Adam, the Christ knew that a Savior would be required. He understood his responsible role. He was to be born into mortality to suffer, to bleed, and to die.

Why? That each of us might ultimately be at one (atoned) with God after our mortal experience, that we might be able to live with him once again, as we did as spirit beings before our birth. His atonement would allow our resurrection from the dead. Then our bodies would be changed to those of flesh and spirit and be able to dwell in the presence of God. The effects of the atonement might thus be expressed as the immortal creation, for "as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:22).

No serious student of the life of Christ can fail to be deeply moved by the Lord's own personal testimonies of his atoning experience. Even though he knew what was required, the record states that he felt " sore amazed, and to be very heavy" (Mark 14:33; see also verses 35-36). His high commission he completed at Gethsemane and on Calvary's cross. There he gave this last testimony: "It is finished" (John 19:30). The plan was consummated. He had fulfilled his earlier prophecy: "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world" (John 18:37).

It is not surprising that the Lord Jesus personally testified of this atoning experience in these latter days when the gospel was restored. He spoke these words and caused them to be recorded for all of us to comprehend:

Wherefore, I command you to repent, and keep the commandments which you have received by the hand of my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., in my name; And it is by my almighty power that you have received them; Therefore I command you to repent--repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore--how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.

For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit-- and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink-- Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men. [D&C 19:13-19]

It seems almost beyond comprehension to think that he paid this enormous price for me and for each of you. And yet, as far as we are concerned individually, unless you and I do our part, his atonement will have been in vain. It is that covenant relationship--that mutual trust-- that makes his atonement such a personal gift. It brings us protection, perennial hope, and the promise of joy.

Standard-Bearers

Standard-bearers march at the vanguard of a worthy cause. They represent that which is good and noble. They often carry flags or other symbols to express identity, purpose, and unity. Speaking of such standard-bearers, I was told a tender account during the holiday season just past. While children reenacted the Christmas story, one child held high a star wrapped in aluminum foil, mounted on a broomstick. Later, someone commended the child for his stamina in holding that star so high for such a long period of time. The child, who had spoken no lines, joyfully replied, "I had the most important part in the play. I showed people how to find Jesus." As his standard-bearers, we are to help the honest in heart to find Jesus. We don't wave flags. And generally we don't carry stars mounted on broomsticks. Instead, as standard-bearers for Jesus the Christ, we willingly and gratefully take his sacred name upon us. We enlist in his cause by covenant.

Each standard-bearer has accepted this scriptural charge:

If ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, . . . by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water [of baptism], . . . then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; . . . then can ye speak with the tongue of angels. [2 Nephi 31:13]

So, standard-bearers first qualify by entering the covenant of baptism. They are thereby blessed with the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then they can speak effectively in leading others to the Lord (see D&C 11:21).

Standard-bearers of the Lord regularly renew their qualifying covenant of baptism. When the sacrament is administered, words of recommittal are offered in prayer to God in behalf of all who "are willing to take upon them the name of [his] Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given them, that they may always have his Spirit to be with them" (Moroni 4:3; see D&C 20:37,77).

Standard-bearers of the Lord are the hope of Israel in Zion's army. They are chosen children of the promised day. They are helping to hasten his work in his time, just as he has decreed (see D&C 88:73).

Meanwhile, the elect of the Lord are responding to personal promptings to seek and surely find him. Perhaps an example will serve to illustrate. A little more than a year ago, a "velvet revolution" occurred in the country of Czechoslovakia, in which a restrictive regime of forty years was overturned. Political prisoners were released from jail. One of them later became the current president of that country. Last summer a twenty-one-year-old medical student in Plzen, named Ales, determined to use his new freedom and his vacation period to earn some money and to find God. In June 1990 he came to New York City. There he was offered a job driving an automobile for a rental agency. The agency needed a car to be driven to Salt Lake City. Through an interpreter, he said, "I don't want to go to Salt Lake City" They replied, "Do you want the job?" He said, "Yes, I want the job." "Then you will drive to Salt Lake City," they demanded. So this he did. While there he went to Temple Square, where he first met standard-bearers of the Lord. He heard their message of the restored gospel. He studied intensively with missionaries in Salt Lake City and then at the Missionary Training Center here in Provo. In the process, this very bright young man also learned the English language. In August he was baptized, following which he was brought in to meet President Monson and me. It was then we learned that one of the two missionaries who had taught him the gospel in Utah was Elder Tobias Burkhardt, son of the president and matron of the Freiberg Temple in the former German Democratic Republic. Ales has now returned to Plzen to resume his medical studies. He found his faith and now bears the holy priesthood. He also learned a new language and is in a position to make great contributions to the work as a standard-bearer for the Lord in Czechoslovakia and elsewhere.

Standards

Standards of the Lord may be tangible or intangible. In Old Testament days, the children of Israel were told to "pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard" (Numbers 1:52).

More frequently cited, both in ancient and in modern scripture, are spiritual standards. One week after Solomon had dedicated the first house of the Lord built on Mount Moriah, the Master personally came to that temple and accepted it as his holy house. Then and there he taught the importance of abiding by his standards of personal righteousness. He said:

If thou wilt walk before me, . . . and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments; Then will I [establish] the throne of thy kingdom. [2 Chronicles 7:17-18]

By way of reinforcement, the Master Teacher then added this warning:

But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, . . . Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight. [2 Chronicles 7:19-20]

But the ability of the people to hear and obey was stunted by their lack of conviction. Jeremiah recorded this stern reprimand of the Lord:

How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet? For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. [Jeremiah 4:21-22]

Protective standards of righteousness were similarly stressed in New Testament times. Paul recorded this charge:

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. [Ephesians 6:1 17; see D&C 27:15-18]

Book of Mormon prophets likewise emphasized the importance of correct standards. One so wrote:

I have spoken plainly unto you, that ye cannot misunderstand. And the words which I have spoken shall stand as a testimony against you; for they are sufficient to teach any man the right way; for the right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not; for by denying him ye also deny the prophets and the law. And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel. [2 Nephi 25:28-29]

This loving Lord again came to the earth in the latter days to teach standards of light and truth to children of this generation. Our Redeemer said:

I have sent mine everlasting covenant into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, . . . to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me. [D&C 45:9]

The Church and its membership are standards for the world. The Lord said:

For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Verily I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations. [D&C 115:4-5]

For the Strength of Youth

With this background in mind, let us study the fundamental standards expected of us as standard-bearers of the Lord today. At general conference time last fall, announcements were made of the publication of a booklet entitled For the Strength of Youth. If your copy is handy, you may wish to refer to it as I continue. Within its pages are summary statements of certain vital standards. These statements were prepared by the Lord's anointed, mindful of this scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants:

It is an imperative duty that we owe to all the rising generation, and to all the pure in heart-- For there are many yet on the earth . . . who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it. [D&C 123:11-12; see also Jeremiah 50:2; 1 Nephi 21:22]

The scriptural statement then continues:

These [standards] should then be attended to with great earnestness. Let no [one] count them as small things; for there is much which lieth in futurity, pertaining to the saints, which depends upon these things. [D&C 123:14-15]

The booklet reviews, in an abbreviated way, specific standards. Although much is included, much more could have been and is not. Sufficient detail is included to allow each of you to know what the Lord expects of you. In addition, you may studiously and prayerfully consult with parents, teachers, and advisors when additional guidance is deemed necessary. You know in a very real way the prevalence of immorality. You are aware that drugs, alcohol, steroids, and other harmful substances are readily available.

As you live in the midst of much that would harm you, heed this verse of warning that closes chapter four of the Book of Mosiah. A prophet of the Lord is speaking:

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 . . ., even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, . . . remember, and perish not. [Mosiah 4:30]

No prophet, no parent, no loving partner or person wants you to "perish." If you are to be preserved, you must take the responsibility to watch yourself, precisely as the scripture commands. For your protection, this little publication lists twelve standards. May I review them briefly and offer a comment about each of these important standards.

1. Dating. Begin with the end in mind, and let your beginnings be bright. The end you seek is a celestial family, enabled by your being sealed in the temple to one you love. So for now, choose companions who make you better when you are with them--those who are willing to take upon themselves the sacred name of the Lord, live his commandments, and join with you in being one of his standard-bearers.

2. Dress and Appearance. This topic concerns the importance of personal choice. As you clothe yourself modestly and groom yourself attractively, your ability to make wise choices will be enhanced. Please pre-think your decisions. Your body is a temple of God; honor it. Don't get caught in the squeeze of opposing pressures. Downward pressure to be worldly is contrary to the uplifting pressure to live in accord with the Lord's standards. Step aside from the squeeze and let the elevating power of tile Lord lift you without restraint to your loftiest heights.

3. Friendship. Cultivate the companionship of good friends. But also seek to broaden your circle. Reach and teach widely without fear. Enjoy opportunities to learn more from others. Share your testimony often and be a good friend to all you know. Don't forget to take advantage of choice friendshipping moments with parents, adults, advisors, and bishops. They will welcome your conversation. Surely, silent treatment is beneath the dignity of those who have taken upon themselves the name of Christ. And play your own part in helping to make your home a place of partnership, prayer, and peace.

4. Honesty. Personal standards should honestly govern every action. The honest person needs to remember only one version of an event. Those who don't obey standards they profess are called "hypocrites." While the world will always be full of them, recognize them for what they are and resolve to avoid their dishonest pattern of behavior. And remember, the payment of tithing will help discipline your mild to be an honest one.

5. Language. Language has the power to inspire and edify. You have the potential to speak with the tongue of an angel. Speak kindly of others. Don't be vulgar or profane. And for exciting new opportunities in life, study the language of people in lands other than your own.

6. Media. This topic pertains to movies, television, radio, videocassettes, books, magazines, and all other means that compete for the attention of your precious sight and hearing. Purveyors of pornography would enslave you by making their addicting snares seem desirable. But don't put all the blame on the media. The person who patronizes smut must bear ultimate accountability.

7. Mental and Physical Health. I have lived long enough now to witness the demise of classmates and colleagues who unwisely chose to disobey the Word of Wisdom (see D&C 89) and other divine counsel regarding the care of their bodies. I promise that as you keep the commandments of your Heavenly Creator and follow instructions that he has decreed for your benefit, you will be blessed in this life now and forever more.

8. Music, Dancing, and Other, Recreation. The Lord expects us to seek after things that are "virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy" (Articles of Faith 1:13). Enjoy them and discern between uplifting influences and those that might lead you away from standards of the Lord.

9. Sexual Purity. What does that mean? It means you take upon yourself the name of the Lord and reserve use of his gift of procreative powers exactly as he has decreed. These powers are not to be abused in lust, adultery, fornication, or perverted behavior. The purpose of the Lord's atonement is to qualify you for eternal marriage and everlasting joy with your predecessors and posterity. Satan would like to destroy the family and all that holds it together. While the world descends to the level of concern for "safe sex," your standard is sacred sex--within the bounds of holy matrimony as intended by the Lord.

General terms used in the booklet such as, "moral cleanliness," "sexual purity," and "high standards" will become personally applicable only when you literally take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ and do as he would have you do.

10. The Sabbath Day. I plead with you to do more than passively follow lists of do's and don'ts compiled by others. Generate your own policies and live by them, Follow the standard of the Lord, who centuries ago said: "My sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you" (Exodus 31:13, italics added; see also Ezekiel 20:20).

Additional guidance has been given in our dispensation, recorded in section 59 of the Doctrine and Covenants (verses 9-13). Questions regarding appropriate behavior on the Sabbath are easily resolved when you study these scriptures and then determine what sign you choose to give to God of your regard for him.

11. Spiritual Help. Standard-bearers of the Lord have qualified by covenant to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. There can be no greater guide to assure spiritual help through all your days.

12. Repentance. We all make mistakes. They are an important part of our maturing experience. But there is a real difference between a mistake and sin. Verses from modern revelation help distinguish the two:

And inasmuch as they erred it might be made known . . . And inasmuch as they sinned they might be chastened, that they might repent;

And inasmuch as they were humble they might be made strong, and blessed from on high, and receive knowledge from time to time. [D&C 1:25-28]

The humble and prayerful person can be blessed with discernment and be made strong. And through the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can repent and be forgiven. For serious wrongdoing, or sin, confession to one's bishop is necessary. And remember, repentance is not repentance until sins are forsaken and repeated no more (see D&C 58:42-43).

Living in accord with these twelve standards will help us be worthy standard-bearers of the Lord. Then we can be his means of serving our fellowmen (see John 13:35; Mosiah 2:17).

Recognize the reality of the Redeemer and the power of the Lord's atonement in your life. Ponder this thought, phrased first as a question then as a testimony: "Did he do all this-for me? Yes, he did all this-for me!"

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me, Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me. I tremble to know that for me he was crucified, That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died. Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me Enough to die for me! Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me! ["I Stand All Amazed," Hymns, 1985, no. 193]

His atonement is real. He has established standards by which each of us can become standard-bearers of the Lord. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy and understanding all mysteries, and knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth nothing. [1 Cor. 13:1-3].

Paul herein compares charity or love with understanding, with knowledge, with faith and even with various forms of self-sacrificing services. Love reigns above all. Love is the "summon bonum" of the gospel. All of the principles and doctrines can be summarized into love. The Savior declared it clearly and forcefully, "on these two commandments ... love the Lord thy God and love thy neighbor as thyself ... hang all the law and the prophets." [Matt. 22:37-40]. Love is the most divine attribute of the human soul. Love is God and God is love.

What exactly does this mean to Latter-Day-Saints? It is good theory and inspiring theology, but what really does it mean at the practical work-a-day level of life. There is always such a gap between the ideal and the real, between the ideal of love and the actual reality of love. To bridge that gap, that is, to lift our actual behavior up toward the ideal, should be a matter of constant and ultimate concern to all of us. Our most powerful and persuasive and eloquent testimony is our character, what we really are, not what we should be or could be or what we preach, but rather what we are.

Does this mean that even though we spend years in the service of our Father and give our all, we may be without love? Yes, even if we give our body to be burned and all our goods to the poor, Paul taught. Does this mean that we might go about doing the work teaching, bearing testimony, putting in the hours and still not have love? Yes, it means actually this. What then is love? What is it the all-important and all-embracing principle that gives purity and life and meaning to every act?

Love is patience, and yet our modern way of life fosters exactly the opposite: quickness. Love is in the frank recognition of the value of another human soul and his right to live his own life at his pace and to choose what he will be and to feel his own feelings and think his own thoughts. Love is not found in the control or dominion of another, but rather in the affirmation of the other, that is believing in the intrinsic worth of another person. To be able to love the other person maturely requires then that you have faith in the innate potential for good, for growth and development within the other person. True love, or patience, then, is based on faith.

Love is the affirmation of another person. Each person is a child of our Father in Heaven and therefore has intrinsic value and is never to be compared with another child or against one's own standard, but rather it is to be compared against the intrinsic standard of what one does with what one has. Because one lacks this kind of intrinsic knowledge of another, then he refuses to judge for he simply cannot.

In human relationships there often seems to be two dimensions on which life goes on. The one and most common dimension is the evaluative one. This is the tendency to judge, to praise or to blame, to agree or to disagree. The other and more uncommon is the understanding one, the affirming one. This is the tendency to accept people as they are, and to love them just as they are without any attempt to place judgement good or bad, but rather the conscious attempt to affirm the essential worth and basic goodness and God-like potential of the other. Notice in all of your relationships and all of your thinking and feeling, even as you are reading this short statement of love, the almost overbearing tendency to judge, to evaluate. Try to adopt an understanding approach to life and towards others rather than the judgmental one.

This is not to say that we do not judge and evaluate, for we must do this at times, but it is to say, we first try to understand the thing or the person being judged. In fact, until there is understanding there is no wise judgement. Until you can say, "I understand you," and the other acknowledges that you do, you simply have no right to agree or disagree or to judge at all. To do so is a denial of the worth of the other.

As you strive to live on an understanding plane of life you come to a start- ling discovery. You will discover the key to influence with others. Others will sense that you believe in them, that you care sufficiently for them to try to understand them and that you really listen and that you really care. This kind of an experience is uncommon and conveys a great respect and affirmation of the other and quietly commands respect and trust in return. Is this not the key to win influence?

Simply try this experiment. Next time you get into a discussion or an argument with your neighbor or friend, make up your mind that you are going to try to understand his point of view. Then begin to listen with empathy. Empathy means to try to see it from the other person's view point and to feel it as he feels it. When you have come to understand the other point of view, then express it in your own words to test this understanding. You will discover that defenses are lowered and arguments evaporate and good temper replaces anger, and kindness, sharpness. I challenge you to this experiment. Watch what happens to your seeming disagreement or argument when the two of you express the other's point of view until each feels satisfied that he is understood.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the religion of Love. The unloving personality often grasps upon it and uses it as a tool, almost as a weapon to use in evaluating and judging and fighting others, in an effort to lift or evaluate himself over others, or to control and dominate them. This in Cain's philosophy, that you get ahead by stepping on others. This is also the philosophy of the world, that a man's real power and influence is measured in terms of the number who serve him. God's philosophy is just the opposite. A man's greatness and influence is measured by the number that he serves and the quality and selflessness of that service. Joseph Smith taught that if a man really wants to get ahead, then he must strive to push others ahead and this very work will exalt and glorify him. As with many Gospel principles, this is an irony for the reasoning of the flesh, but nonetheless true as understood by the Spirit. The religion of love can be used as one of the most selfish influences in a man's life. A man can use is as a shield to protect himself, as a cloak to justify unloving action and critical judgement. As Latter-Day Saints we should always be careful of being the worst offenders, the greatest hypocrites in this regard. There is surely an element of truth in Marx's statement that religion is the opiate of the people. Improperly perceived and used, it can serve as a poison and can destroy rather than build. But when it is understood that the greatest thing in the world is the human soul, that true religion is not an end in itself, but rather the means in bringing about the growth or the "immortality and eternal life" of that human soul, then - and only then - will everything fall into its proper place so that the missionary does all that he does because of genuine love for people.

Why is love such an Influence? Because it appeals to the basic nature of man. People behave how they feel about themselves and about the things they value. Unless a man feels deeply about the Lord and His message, he won't follow the Lord. Even though he clearly acknowledges the Lord's divinity he would rather follow that which he feels strongest about, that which he values. He may have a testimony or spiritual knowledge about the Gospel, but unless he feels stronger about this truth and its value in his life, than he does about the other things - social, material, physical - in this life, than he will simply not be motivated to come to Church but rather choose to go on as before. But if we genuinely communicate love, not only by what we say, but more importantly by the manner in which we treat and affirm and respect our friends, then we will have responded to man's deepest need and will release the internal power and courage to act upon the truth given. Then, divine nature and this unless our friends are continually sustained and nurtured by love almost daily, in order to build a compelling motivation to continue to act upon truth, the other outside forces, including the influences of the evil one will begin to play once again upon them in encouraging them to go their old way, the way of the flesh and of the world.

The Spirit brings testimony or conviction. Love is the principle of motivation. Many have conviction but lack the motivation to act upon that conviction. Seeing this the unwise Latter-Day Saint spends time and energy to give more conviction, to use more logic and more scripture to prove the truth, he often behaves in such a way as to deny the worth of the other. He has not yet learned that "ignorance is a knot of the heart". Love will untie the knot.

The Spirit brings testimony or conviction. Love is the principle of motivation. Many have conviction but lack the motivation to act upon that conviction. Seeing this the unwise tries to cover their lack of motivation with excuse. I challenge you to this experiment. With the people who seem to be weak in motivation, who know the truth but hesitate to act or seem to have no root within themselves - that is they try to please everyone and be all things to all people - try loving them. Be sincerely respectful as you talk. Be very patient. Listen. Serve them. Do things for them. Become interested in their lives. Literally reach out and value their souls and treat them that way. Love them. You will discover that you are planting seeds and developing strengths and roots within them and as they eternally grow and diving springs within them are released, new power and courage to act on the testimony they have will arise within them, truly a well of everlasting water.

Joseph F. Smith once said, "Every salient truth which comes so forcibly to the heart and mind of man is but an awakening of the memories of the Spirit." He then asked the question, "Can we know anything here we did not know before we came here?" Think of it for a moment. If we lived before we came here and accepted the Gospel plan, could not that spiritual knowledge and testimony belong within our own spiritual memory and could not the acquiring of a testimony here in a sense be the discovery of one's divine nature and eternal commitment, as illuminated by the Holy Ghost? I challenge you to have faith that there is contained in every investigator and every church member an enormous reservoir of power, of divine knowledge and intelligence and strength. Does this faith give you a respect for the unique worth of each person? Is there any need to exploit or control or manipulate or dominate his person when truth is within him though covered over by fear and tradition and sin?

Then have faith, regardless of the way in which he treats you or acts, that through the Spirit and by giving love you are fanning this divine spark. I would suggest that if you look to yourself and your manipulate skills and powers to influence and to bring people to commitments and perhaps to the Church, that you really lack faith and respect in the divinity and power within the other and in the Lord, and under this philosophy they that are baptized may not really be or become converted.

The highest form of behaved love in my judgement is to love the unlovable. In fact, this is the only true test of one's ability to love, for the Pharisees and Sadducees loved their own. It is easy to love the loveable, those whose behavior is so consistent with our own needs and desires. But to love your neighbor when he behaves in various obnoxious ways, to love your friends who fight and resists your message, to love the slow and unconducted and slothful church member who proves himself entirely undependable, this is the true test of love. "Love your enemies, bless them that hate you and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you." If we do not love the behavior or the acts of our enemy, what is it that we love? We love his essential worth. We love the fact of his own spiritual kinship to God the Father and to ourselves, and we discover this love often disarms our enemy and he becomes our friend.

"Agree with thine adversary quickly," the Savior admonished. What does this mean? When you are teaching the Gospel or helping your neighbor or advising Saint, or dealing with anyone with whom a difference exists in view point or a action, immediately listen and try to understand and see it from his point of view. You will discover that from his frame of references he is correct and through your respectful treatment, his frozen conviction will become more fluid and he will begin to listen to your point of view. You both will be changed and bettered by the respectful encounter.

I found it best to work on the assumption (generally correct) in human relationships that everyone is trying to do right from his point of view. I challenge you to act upon that assumption for just one day, all the day long, and see what happens.

Another thing we learn again and again is that love is not a technique, but it is a fundamental attitude which springs from the inside of a man. It has to be genuine and sincere or it does become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. Another human irony is that many who are most talented and capable and intelligent are those who are the most incapable of giving love. They are so dependent upon their human skills that they have refused to go through necessary but inevitably painful process of doing emotional push-ups in developing their love muscle power. And in spite of their brilliant capabilities they find themselves impotent and almost paralysed in really exercising influences with others as a member of a group or as a leader. And often the opposite is true. The other, unskilled and uneducated and unpolished who has a sincere regard for himself and for others, becomes the center of a dynamic and righteous influence with every human being whose life he touches, be it a missionary or a sophisticated investigator, or perhaps an embittered member of the Church. In simpler language, it is really not so much what is said, but how it is said, that really matters.

How can one achieve this great love? I believe the mature ability to give love to another largely depends upon how much love you have been given yourself. You cannot give that which you do not possess. A person starved of natural affection and love is deficient emotionally just as a person living without calcium develops rickets and is deficient physically. To require the latter to run is a futile as to require the former to love.

This is why we need to love one another because emotional food alone develops an emotional capacity and desire and the power to give, to share and serve selflessly.

There is a great truth in this statement, "The child is always father to the man." That is, the early years of childhood tend to determine and dominate the rest of one's life. Unless one has been treated in such a way as to build self-respect and self-regard, his experience with God is likewise untrusting and without faith. He reasons, "why would God love me or forgive me when other humans do not?"

Selfishness and selflove are opposites rather than being identical as many would suppose. If I can love and respect and accept myself I can then forget myself and serve others. If I have no selfrespect or selflove then I selfishly grasp for things which will reassure me and I try to prove myself continuously to others and to myself. And this is seen as selfish behavior. Rather than flowing from a man who loves himself properly, it stems out of the fact that he does not love himself. The ability to love oneself properly is the requisite condition to love others, and to me this is a part of the truth contained in the Lord's teaching, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." It is also the gem within the Golden Rule. There are two reservoirs of love that we can all drink from, if we will learn how. One is the human reservoir and the other is the divine. If we seek human association and friendships in which we find respect and patience and kindness and understanding, then we build up our own reservoir of love and can return these same human qualities to others. But even above this, if we seek the Lord and keep His commandments, we will walk in His love. If we don't keep His commandments, we walk in darkness and although He still love and remain deficient. As we go to the Lord's Church and become born loves, we do not feel His again, the Savior then literally becomes our Spiritual Father and we have a new childhood, in spite of the diffiencities and unhealthy environment and lack of natural affection in our own physical natural childhood. We have a new childhood, and this becomes the father of the man. Christ's love for us can become like a well of everlasting water from within us, springing into eternal life.

Moroni tells us how to be filled with this God-given gift of love. "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of His son Jesus Christ; that ye may become sons of God that when He shall appear we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is; that we may be purified even as He is pure."

The greatest power of love in the world is the love of Christ. Believe that He lives and that He loves you with a great and an infinite love far beyond your present ability to understand, even beyond your imagination. He loves you as you are, for that also contains what you can become and intimately understand you and your problems and cares.

As we draw upon both this human and this divine reservoir through our own obedience in keeping the commandments, our faithful prayers and our constant striving to live the laws of love, we still truly develop this divine power and attitude and then we will not only love "in word and tongue" but most importantly "in deed and in truth."

Shakespeare beautifully characterized the majestic power and influence which one solitary person who genuinely loves another person can have. Study this over and use your imagination. If in the moments of discouragement and selfpity and seeming hopelessness, you can think of no one who loves you truly, then think of the Lord Jesus Christ, and His "sweet love remembered" such wealth will bring that then you will scorn to change your state with kings.