The Lord Is Able to Do All Things According to His Will -- 1 Nephi 7:12

What is the will of the Lord? People often claim to know what it is, especially when they conclude that the will of the Lord is on their side of some issue. People often wonder whether something tragic is the will of the Lord, whether it be natural disasters, atrocities of war and terrorism, the suffering and death of loved ones, or a host of other sad events. The supposed will of the Lord has been the source of much strife, suffering and bloodshed through the centuries.

As we consider these questions, we must recognize that there are four aspects to the will of the Lord: (1) His Revealed Will; (2) His Sovereign Will; (3) His Permissive Will; and (4) His Providential Will. In this posting, we will consider the first two aspects, namely the Revealed Will and the Sovereign Will.

The Revealed Will of the Lord is, simply, what He has told us that He wants us to do. This is the aspect of the Lord's Will that the Savior taught his disciples on both hemispheres to ask "be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matt. 6:10; 3 Nephi 13:10). This Will is perfectly followed by celestial beings. Unfortunately, on earth, this Will is most often ignored and disobeyed. As it pertains to the world and to the Restored Church as a whole, we find the Lord's Revealed Will in the scriptures and the instructions of living prophets. As it pertains to the various units of the Church, we find the Lord's Revealed Will in the inspired decisions made by, and inspired callings issued by, those holding the priesthood keys to preside over that unit. Of His inspired priesthood bearers, the Lord has said, "And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation." (D&C 68:4). As it pertains to individuals, the Revealed Will of the Lord may be found in the answers to fervent prayer, the inspiration that comes as we contemplate the scriptures and the inspired blessings pronounced upon us by patriarchs and other priesthood holders.

Certainly, we cannot say that tragedy and atrocity are part of the Revealed Will of the Lord. In fact, peace, safety and salvation are to be found in following the Revealed Will. "Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name. Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God. Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked— And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out." (Hel. 3: 27-30). When we strive to be obedient to the Lord's Revealed Will, we have the assurance that we are doing what He would have us do -- and in this there can be deep comfort.

The second aspect of the Lord's Will is His Sovereign Will. The Lord's Sovereign Will includes all those things that, as all wise, all good and all powerful Lord of the universe, He has decreed shall absolutely come to pass. "And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" (Dan. 4:35). "And from thence, whosoever I will shall go forth among all nations, and it shall be told them what they shall do; for I have a great work laid up in store, for Israel shall be saved, and I will lead them whithersoever I will, and no power shall stay my hand." (D&C 38:33). "How long can rolling waters remain impure? What power shall stay the heavens? As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints. (D&C 121:33).

To the extent the Sovereign Will has been made known to the world and to the Church, it relates primarily to implementing the major aspects of the plan of salvation as decreed in the pre-mortal councils in heaven. We see it implemented in the Creation, the Fall, the Atonement and the Resurrection. It includes such things as the restoration of the Gospel in the last days, never again to be removed; the gathering of Israel; the second coming of Christ to reign throughout the Millennium; and the final judgment. These are things that the Lord has told us He is going to do, and there is no power, in heaven, earth or hell, that can alter them.

The Sovereign Will of the Lord is found primarily in the prophecies and promises that appear in the scriptures and the teachings of latter-day prophets. In His introduction to The Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord declared, "Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled. What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same" (D&C 1:37-38). It was the Lord's Sovereign Will that the Prophet Joseph had in mind when he uttered the famous reassuring words, "The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecution may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”

The Lord's Sovereign Will, as it may pertain to individuals, remains largely unrevealed. There is one aspect of it, however, that does give us comfort and assurance. When we make covenants with the Lord, He promises blessings to us, contingent on our keeping our part of the covenant. When we have done so, however, we have His sovereign promise that the blessings will come. "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." (D&C 82:10). In speaking of those who receive the Holy Priesthood, the Lord promised, "Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved. But whoso breaketh this covenant after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come." (D&C 84:40-41).

Understanding of the Lord's Sovereign Will strengthens us in times of widespread fear and commotion with the conviction that He is in charge and that, ultimately, nothing can interfere with His plans for the world and His faithful children. As we make covenants with this Sovereign Lord, we stand upon the promise that the blessings will come according to our faithfulness.

We love to hear thy holy word
Proclaimed in latter days.
It lifts our hearts; our souls are stirred
To glorify thy ways.

We love to read thy holy word
With quiet thought and prayer.
Thy Spirit’s whisp’rings we have heard;
We feel thy constant care.

We love to share thy holy word;
Thy gospel we proclaim.
We humbly bear our witness, Lord,
Of thy redeeming name.

We thank thee for thy holy word;
With joy we sing thy praise.
Oh, help us, Lord, to learn thy word
And live it all our days.

Hymns, Thy Holy Word, no. 279.

How Is It That Ye Have Forgotten? 1 Nephi 7:9--12

How is it that ye have not hearkened unto the word of the Lord? How is it that ye have forgotten that ye have seen an angel of the Lord? Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten what great things the Lord hath done for us, in delivering us out of the hands of Laban, and also that we should obtain the record? Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him.

In reprimanding his older brothers for their lack of faith, Nephi provides us with four sources of strength when our own faith is weak.

"How is it that ye have not hearkened unto the word of the Lord?" The first help to which we should look is the scriptures themselves. There we read of the promises of the Lord to us and of the way He has sustained His faithful servants in all generations. As we read of the trials of earlier believers, we can gain insight and inspiration to follow in their footsteps. A good place to start would be to review Hebrews chapter 11, where the Apostle Paul lists the great heroes of faith from Abel through the exodus of Israel from Egypt. He then goes on to say:

"And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained
promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the
edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight,
turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to
life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might
obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and
scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were
sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in
sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the
world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens
and caves of the earth. . . all, having obtained a good report through faith . .
. ." (Heb. 11:32-29)

I refer once again to Matthew Henry's eloquent commentary on this passage:

"We should be pleased to think, how great the number of believers was under the Old Testament, and how strong their faith, though the objects of it were not then so fully made known as now. . . It is the excellence of the grace of faith,
that, while it helps men to do great things, like Gideon, it keeps from high and
great thoughts of themselves. Faith, like Barak's, has recourse unto God in all
dangers and difficulties, and then makes grateful returns to God for all mercies
and deliverances. By faith, the servants of God shall overcome even the roaring
lion that goeth about seeking whom he may devour. The believer's faith endures
to the end, and, in dying, gives him victory over death and all his deadly enemies, like Samson. The grace of God often fixes upon very undeserving and ill-deserving persons, to do great things for them and by them. But the grace of faith, wherever it is, will put men upon acknowledging God in all their ways, as Jephthah. It will make men bold and courageous in a good cause. Few ever met with greater trials, few ever showed more lively faith, than David, and he has left a testimony as to the trials and acts of faith, in the book of Psalms, which has been, and ever will be, of great value to the people of God. Those are likely to grow up to be distinguished for faith, who begin betimes, like Samuel, to exercise it. And faith will enable a man to serve God and his generation, in whatever way he may be employed. The interests and powers of kings and kingdoms, are often opposed to God and his people; but God can easily subdue all that set themselves against him. It is a greater honour and happiness to work righteousness than to work miracles. By faith we have comfort of the promises; and by faith we are prepared to wait for the promises, and in due time to receive them. And though we do not hope to have our dead relatives or friends restored to life in this world, yet faith will support under the loss of them, and direct to the hope of a better resurrection. Shall we be most amazed at the
wickedness of human nature, that it is capable of such awful cruelties to fellow-creatures, or at the excellence of Divine grace, that is able to bear up the faithful under such cruelties, and to carry them safely through all?"

Nephi's second source for strengthening faith is the remembrance of our own experiences. He said to his brothers, "How is it that ye have forgotten that ye have seen an angel of the Lord?" Though few of us have the experience of seeing an angel, most of us can remember spiritual gifts, manifestations and blessings of our past -- times when we have felt the presence and power of the Lord's Spirit, giving us strength again. When our faith grows weak, let us remember those times and find there faith that we can receive again the same blessings.

The third source of faith to which Nephi points us is our prior experience of help and deliverance. "Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten what great things the Lord hath done for us, in delivering us out of the hands of Laban, and also that we should obtain the record?" Think of what the Lord has already done for you. Remember the prayers that have been answered, the guidance and deliverance that have been provided and the troubles that were erased. Trust that He who has saved you before can save you again.

Finally, Nephi would have us remember the greatness of the Lord who stands ready to help us in times of difficulty. "Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men . . . ?" Oh, what comfort and courage come from contemplating the Lord's power, knowledge and love! Oh, what assurance is found in knowing that He is unchanging -- that He who has stood by the Saints who have preceded us in every dispensation is the same Savior to whom we look for guidance, deliverance and strength! Our faith in His is rooted in the Plan of Salvation, the central aspects of which are the Creation, the Fall and, most importantly, the Atonement of Christ. As the Prophet Joseph was inspired to declare in Section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants:

"By these things [modern revelation] we know that there is a God in heaven, who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all things which are in them; And that he created man, male and female, after his own image and in his own likeness, created he them; And gave unto them commandments that they should love and serve him, the only living and true God, and that he should be the only being whom
they should worship. But by the transgression of these holy laws man became sensual and devilish, and became fallen man. Wherefore, the Almighty God gave his Only Begotten Son, as it is written in those scriptures which have been given of him. He suffered temptations but gave no heed unto them. He was crucified, died, and rose again the third day; And ascended into heaven, to sit down on the right hand of the Father, to reign with almighty power according to the will of the Father; That as many as would believe and be baptized in his holy name, and endure in faith to the end, should be saved— Not only those who believed after he came in the meridian of time, in the flesh, but all those from the beginning, even as many as were before he came, who believed in the words of the holy prophets, who spake as they were inspired by the gift of the Holy Ghost, who truly testified of him in all things, should have eternal life, As well as those who should come after, who should believe in the gifts and callings of God by the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of the Father and of the Son; Which Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one God, infinite and eternal, without end. Amen." (D&C 20:17-28)

Like Nephi, let us find faith and courage in this awesome God and all the blessings He has given us.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;

As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Refrain:
Great is Thy faithfulness!

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Refrain

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Refrain

(Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1923)

I Will Go and Do -- 1 Nephi 3:7

I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

This is one of the most quoted verses in all of latter-day revelation. It is a promise and assurance that are vital if we are to learn to trust the Lord in all things. It is the marvelous assurance that we can do all that the Lord commands us to do.

Nephi was able to express this assurance, not because of his self-confidence or faith in his own power and ability. He trusted not in himself, but in the kindness of an all powerful and all loving Lord, who could equip him to do whatever was required. Nephi still had to choose to obey and to walk in the path of obedience -- but that path and his ability to walk it he knew could only come from God. His faith was the same as that of the Apostle Paul, who proclaimed "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me," (Phil. 4:13) and who exhorted the Saints at Philippi, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Phil 2:12-13)

The eighteenth century Bible commentator, Matthew Henry, wrote in respect to this passage:

"We must be diligent in the use of all the means which lead to our salvation, persevering therein to the end. With great care, lest, with all our advantages, we should come short. Work out your salvation, for it is God who worketh in you. This encourages us to do our utmost, because our labour shall not be in vain: we must still depend on the grace of God. The working of God's grace in us, is to quicken and engage our endeavours. God's good-will to us, is the cause of his good work in us."

We know that Nephi was a diligent student of the prophet Isaiah. Perhaps he had taken to heart the words we find in Isaiah chapter 40:

"Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that await upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isaiah 40: 28-31)

On this famous passage from Isaiah, Matthew Henry also wrote:

"Where God had begun the work of grace, he will perfect it. He will help those who, in humble dependence on him, help themselves. As the day, so shall the strength be. In the strength of Divine grace their souls shall ascend above the world. They shall run the way of God's commandments cheerfully. Let us watch against unbelief, pride, and self-confidence. If we go forth in our own strength, we shall faint, and utterly fall; but having our hearts and our hopes in heaven, we shall be carried above all difficulties, and be enabled to lay hold of the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus."

As we learn in holy places, the servants of the Lord may always go forth upon His errand with unfailing confidence that what He has commanded shall be done. They need not respond to Him by saying, "I will try," or "I will do my best." They can have full faith that He who commands empowers them to obey and to accomplish.

Let these thoughts comfort and encourage us when we are worn out in His service, or when we feel a command or assignment is beyond our capacity.

Annie Johnson Flint is an example of persistence in working righteousness. Born in 1866, she was left an orphan before reaching age 6. She hoped to be a composer and concert pianist, but these dreams were shattered by arthritis that began to afflict her as a teenager and took away her ability to walk. Later, unable any longer to play the piano, she turned to writing poetry. Eventually, arthritis left her unable to even open her hands enough to hold a pen. She turned to writing on a typewriter, using only her knuckles. Thus, she came to write the encouraging words of the following hymn:

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials he multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

Leaving It All Behind -- 1 Nehi 2:2-4

And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness. And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him. And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness.

Unless we are careful, we will hurry past this verse and miss its tremendous implications. Various hints are scattered throughout 1st Nephi that Lehi and his family were persons of wealth and prominence. It is likely that the house he left behind was quite comfortable for that time and place. The family probably had servants and enjoyed significant worldly benefits in Jerusalem. But at the Lord's command to depart, Lehi had the tremendous faith to leave that all behind -- and we must not underestimate that sacrifice.

Life for Lehi and his family would never be the same. Instead of a comfortable house, they would dwell in tents in an unforgiving wilderness. Instead of a society in which they enjoyed some prominence, they would be "strangers in a strange land." Instead of being served by others, they would have to work hard merely to carve out an existence. There is no evidence in the Book of Mormon account that, at this point, Lehi knew that they were being led to a land of promise. All he knew was that the Lord had told him to depart into the wilderness and so he departed, leaving behind all he had known and enjoyed. He truly went to the edge of the light and took that great step of faith into the darkness of the unknown future.

What an amazing faith! Lehi literally entirely placed his whole life into the Lord's hands. Moreover, he must have thought about the sacrifice that he was asking of his wife and children in doing so. It is one thing to make a decision to sacrifice your all at the Lord's bidding; it is an entirely different thing to ask those you love to make a similar sacrifice. Did he anticipate that Laman and Lemuel might ultimately fail the test? Was he confident that his wife, Nephi and Sam would remain faithful? Did he ever wonder, years later, if he should have allowed Laman and Lemuel to remain in Jerusalem so their sins might not have been as grievous? We can never know for certain. If Lehi had questions or misgivings at this early point, the record does not mention them. It also appears that whatever fears Lehi may have had did not delay him. Although the text does not expressly say so, it appears that Lehi's obedience was immediate.

Hardly any of us will be called upon to sacrifice as did Lehi and his family. But we must not minimize what the Lord demands of those who would be His faithful people. We must be willing to sacrifice whatever He requires. That demand should give us pause -- it should frighten us. Because only if it does so, have we really understood Christ's call to follow Him. And only if it does so, will we turn to Him with the desire and urgency we need to seek the gift of a faith like that of Lehi. Through the Spirit, He can implant such faith in our hearts if we seek it and allow Him to do so. When Jesus sent away the rich young man, who was sorrowing because he could not bring himself to give his all to the poor, the disciples "were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." (Matt. 19:25-26)

The well-known 19th century hymn writer, Frances Havergal, penned the following lines -- which we can echo if we allow the Spirit to increase our faith.

Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.

Temple Covenants

The following is the text of a talk I gave last Sunday in our ward's sacrament meeting. It is related to our topic, although it does interrupt the flow of Book of Mormon comments. I hope you find it helpful in any event.

TEMPLE COVENANTS

Given August 31, 2008
Naperville 1st Ward Sacrament Meeting

One of the most important truths revealed in all the Scriptures is found in the familiar passage from Moses chapter 1, where the Lord explained:

“For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” Moses 1:39

This opens to us the very heart of God. It tells us His goal, that He loves His children so much that He devotes all His infinite power, knowledge and wisdom to their happiness.

To God, everything is simple. He wants each and every one of His children to receive eternally all of the joy and light and glory they are willing to receive.

The fullness of these blessings is described in the Scriptures as eternal life and exaltation. That is the gift Our Heavenly Father yearns to give every person who will accept it. The Prophet Joseph declared, “God is glorified in the salvation and exaltation of each of His children.”

Accepting this gift consists of preparing ourselves for this blessing. In D&C 78:7, the Lord says:

“For if you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world, you must prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and required of you.”

To dwell in the celestial kingdom, we must become celestial people. Do you think there are people in the celestial kingdom who are disobedient and rebellious? Do you think anyone there is selfish and possessive? Do you expect to see anyone there who is hateful, bigoted or resentful? Could any of the exalted be impure? Would it not surprise you to encounter there any person who does not seek to fulfill the will of the Father in all things?

President John Taylor explained:

“. . . if men do not live according to the laws of a celestial kingdom, they are not going into a celestial glory; they cannot pass by the angels {and the Gods}, who are set to guard the way of life. Straight is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it.

“Is God merciful? Yes. Will he treat his children well? Yes. He will do the very best he can for all. But there are certain eternal laws by which {the Gods in} the eternal worlds are governed {and which they cannot violate, and do not want to violate.} These eternal principles must be kept, and one principle is that no unclean thing can enter into the kingdom of God. What, then, will be the result? {Why}, the people . . . who do not keep the celestial law—will have to go into a lesser kingdom, into a terrestrial, or perhaps a telestial, as the case may be. Is that according to the law of God? Yes, for if they are not prepared for the celestial kingdom, they must go to such a one as they are prepared to endure. . . . [W]e are here in a school to learn, and it is for the elders of Israel who are desirous to do the will of God, and keep his commandments, to put themselves in the way of doing so, to seek to the Lord for his guidance and direction, to repent of their follies, their nonsense, and wickedness of every kind, and to come out for God and his kingdom, and to seek to build up the Zion of God and the kingdom of God upon the earth, and if we do this, God will bless us and exalt us in time and throughout the eternities that are to come.”— Gospel Kingdom, p. 19.

The straight and narrow path – the only path that leads to eternal exaltation – goes through the Temple – for only through the ordinances and covenants of the Temple can we become celestial people, prepared to dwell in that high and glorious place.

The covenants that we make in the Temple teach us how to live celestial lives, how to become celestial people. The Encyclopedia of Mormonism (p. 455) summarizes these covenants by saying:

“The temple Endowment is seen as the unfolding or culmination of the covenants made at baptism. Temple covenants give "tests by which one's willingness and fitness for righteousness may be known" (Widtsoe, p. 335). They include the "covenant and promise to observe the law of strict virtue and chastity, to be charitable, benevolent, tolerant and pure; to devote both talent and material means to the spread of truth and the uplifting of the [human] race; to maintain devotion to the cause of truth; and to seek in every way to contribute to the great preparation that the earth may be made ready to receive…Jesus Christ" (Talmage, p. 84). One also promises to keep these covenants sacred and to "trifle not with sacred things" ("D&C 6:12D&C 6:12).”

So the Temple covenants explain specifically who we must become to receive the fullness of our Heavenly Father’s blessings. They set a standard that we commit to reach. In making Temple covenants, we promise to give to our Heavenly Father all that we are and all that we possess. In turn, He promises to us that He will give us all that He is and all that He has. The Temple is the only place where men and women receive the fullness of the Priesthood. In describing the oath and covenant of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Lord said:

“. . . [A]ll they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord;
For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me;
And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;
And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father's kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him.
And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood.
Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved.
But whoso breaketh this covenant after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come.” D&C 84:35-41

Most importantly, in the Temple covenants, the Lord also promises to give us the added power that we need to keep the covenants that we have made for as long as we are willing to do so. No human being, by his or her efforts, can change a human being into a divine being. Only a divine being has the power to transform a human being into a divine being. The infinite Atonement is the source of this power; and the Holy Priesthood is the means by which this power works this transformation in us. Section 84 of the Doctrine and Covenants also tells us:

“And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.
Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.
And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;
For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.” D&C 84:19-22.

Elder David E. Sorensen of the Presidency of the Seventy has explained perfectly how Temple covenants and ordinances give us access to divine power. He wrote:

“One reason for the power of covenants may be due to the capability they have for effecting changes in our lives, especially sacred covenants. . . . [B]y entering a covenant that is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise (the Holy Ghost), we gain special access to the grace of God to help us keep the promises we have made.

“The purpose of temple work is to make more effective the Atonement of Jesus Christ. . . . Consider how the covenants of baptism, the sacrament, and the laying on of hands are all centered upon the Savior and His atoning sacrifice and how they lead us to change our lives. In a similar way, the covenants we make when we receive the endowment can propel us to even greater changes and greater Christlike behavior. . . . How do we gain access to the fullness of the Atonement, this additional dispensation of grace? Only by covenants, which are entered into only through ordinances, which can be performed only through priesthood keys. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught ‘Being born again comes by the Spirit of God through ordinances.’ (Liahona, Aug. 2002, 30)

We have the tremendous blessing of living in this, the last and the greatest of all dispensations of the Gospel. As such, we have a sacred opportunity that is almost unique in the history of this world. We cannot only receive these ordinances and covenants for ourselves. We can return to the Temple again and again to participate in these ordinances for others who have died. So far as has been revealed to us, ordinances been performed for the dead only during a brief part of the New Testament period and, presumably, during the Nephite Golden Age following the Savior’s visit to the Americas. Except for those peoples, during the whole history of the world, only the Latter-day Saints have had the blessing of returning to a Temple as often as they wish to hear and contemplate the eternal ordinances of the endowment.

Brothers and sisters, I counsel you – I implore you – I beg you, do not let this opportunity be wasted. Yes, it can be a sacrifice. It takes time and energy and a bit of money to travel to the Temple and worship there. But our Eternal Father, who will never allow Himself to be outdone in generosity, will reward you abundantly. I think it is of great, great importance that, of all the things the Almighty God could have selected for the highest form of worship, He asks only that we help our brothers and sisters, His children.

Each time we go to the Temple, we have the privilege of partaking more and more of the Savior’s grace and power as we participate in the Father’s work and glory, of bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of all His children. As we enter the sacred space of the Lord’s House, and walk the hallowed halls where angels tread, we can draw closer to the day when we will fulfill the ideal of which our Primary children sing:

I’m trying to be like Jesus;
I’m following in his ways.
I’m trying to live as he did, in all that I do and say,
At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice,
But I try to listen as the still small voice whispers,

“Love one another as Jesus loves you.
Try to show kindness in all that you do.
Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,
For these are the things Jesus taught.”

I bear solemn witness that these things are true, and I do it in the sacred name of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, amen.

Mighty Unto the Power of Deliverance -- 1 Nephi 1:20

But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.

Having described the mortal danger into which Lehi had placed himself by preaching the message of warning to his people, Nephi transitions into the next phase of his narrative with this verse. What a beautiful assurance and what a call to reality!

Nephi explains that the Lord's mercies are over all He has chosen. And they are not just mercies -- they are tender mercies. It is a sweet thing for the Lord to wipe the tears from our eyes -- it is a much sweeter thing for Him to do so with gentle kindness.

These mercies are over "all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith. . ." We can understand this sentence in two ways. One is that those with great faith are chosen, and to all of them the Lord gives His tender mercies. The other view is that among the chosen, all those with great faith experience His tender mercies. In either case, it is faith that calls forth the Lord's tender mercies. The Book of Mormon prophets speak at length about how to develop such faith. It is essential if we are to enjoy the peace and comfort of the Lord in this life and the eternal blessings of the Lord in the life to come.

Nephi also calls us to be realistic and pragmatic in recognizing the fruits of faith. He does not say that the Lord simply delivers the faithful. He says the Lord makes them mighty so that they have the power to find deliverance. The Lord delivered Lehi and his family from the dangers (both physical and spiritual) they found in Jerusalem. He did not simply "beam" them over to the land of promise. He led them into the desert. He showed them the way to travel through barren wastes and directed them where to find the provisions they needed. Eventually, He brought them to the land Bountiful. They found no ship waiting there. But the Lord led them to a place with forests to be felled and ore to be mined so that they could make a ship. All that was within their human capacity they were required to do. And His tender mercies supplied the rest.

We must not be surprised when it is so with us. The Lord expects us to do all we can to accomplish what is asked of us. Whatever is needed in addition, He supplies. The faith that He will do so is the faith that calls forth His tender mercies.

Years ago, I lay in bed at home, recovering from surgery. We had a young family and a new house and work demanded so much. The last thing I needed to be doing was staying in bed and recuperating. In great frustration, I thought, "Lord I do not have time for this!" Almost instantly, the thought came into my mind, "Whatever the Lord wants you to do now, His grace will give you the strength to do." And if He does not want you to do a certain thing now, the means will not be provided. How often that lesson has been repeated in my life! We must search and learn and do all we can to accomplish what we have been asked. And then we must stand still with faith that the Lord will mercifully bring forth the results He wants in His time.

Shall Never Perish -- 1 Nephi 1:14

Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish!

This doxology by Lehi includes a marvelous promise to all those who will come unto the Lord: they shall not be allowed to perish. It is a promise that the Savior Himself uttered repeatedly during his mortal ministry. To the Jewish leaders who questioned His authority, He declared, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand." (John 10:27-29) And to the sorrowing sisters of His friend Lazarus came the Lord's words of deep comfort, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."

Plainly, these promises do not assure the faithful of endless mortal life. Death comes upon all, believers and nonbelievers. These scriptural promises do contain three aspects, however, that bring tremendous comfort to all who understand the Lord's great Plan of Salvation.

First, the faithful have the assurance that mortal death will have no sting. The Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph: "Thou shalt alive together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die, and more especially for those that have not hope of a glorious resurrection. And it shall come to pass that those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them; And they that die not in me, wo unto them, for their death is bitter. And again, it shall come to pass that he that hath faith in me to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed." (D&C 42:45-48)

Second, the faithful who abide in the Lord have the promise that mortal death does not come before its time. The revelation just quoted refers to those who are or are not "appointed unto death." We also read: "Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?" (Job 7:1) Many passages of scripture make it clear that the faithful are, as one wise man wrote, "immortal until their work is done."

Finally, those who come to the Lord and stay with Him, as shown by their faith and obedience, need not fear the second death. Their eventual resurrection to the fullness of eternal life is assured.

"Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost. And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive. And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." (2 Nephi 31:17-20)

Lehi's brief hymn of praise also points out the basis upon which the faithful may trust in these amazing promises. The promises are founded upon the power, goodness and mercy of God. Because the Lord is all powerful, He can bring about what is best for His children; because He is good, He knows and desires what is best for His children; and because He is merciful, He will do all within His infinite power to see that His best will be given to all who are willing to receive it.

Favored Though Afflicted -- 1 Nephi 1:1

I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.

In the very first verse of the Book of Mormon, Nephi gives us a key insight into his faith. He had "seen many afflictions in the course of [his] days." Despite those afflictions, however, Nephi viewed himself as "having been highly favored of the Lord in all [his] days." Even on those many days when he was afflicted, he still understood that he was favored of the Lord. Indeed, he might have understood that those afflictions were themselves blessings and signs of the Lord's favor. He understood well what would be written centuries later and on the other side of the world, in the Epistle to the Hebrews: "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?" (Heb. 12:5-7).

It is the best block in the quarry that the great sculptor chooses to be chiseled and hammered into his masterpiece. It is the most valuable rough stone that the jeweler selects to be ground and polished into a priceless gem. And it is the most beautiful rose bush that the gardener prunes and trims to produce the prize blossom. Even so, it was one of the most noble souls, Nephi, that the Lord molded through affliction into a great prophet, one with "a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God." A knowledge that surely would not have come without Nephi's enduring well the afflictions that came to him.

So when we are dealing with the afflictions of life, let us trust that we, too, are being favored of the Lord and being polished to become the eternal masterpiece that He knows we can become.

John Newton, who was the captain of a slave ship before he converted to Christianity and became a minister in England, gave us the famous hymns, "Amazing Grace" and "Lead Kindly Light." He also authored the following verses:

Afflictions do not come alone,
A voice attends the rod;
By both He to His saints is known,
A Father and a God!

Let not My children slight the stroke
I for chastisement send;
Nor faint beneath My kind rebuke,
For still I am their Friend.

The wicked I perhaps may leave
Awhile, and not reprove;
But all the children I receive
I scourge, because I love.

If therefore you were left without
This needful discipline;
You might, with cause, admit a doubt,
If you, indeed, were Mine.

Shall earthly parents then expect
Their children to submit?
And wilt not you, when I correct,
Be humbled at My feet?

To please themselves they oft chastise,
And put their sons to pain;
But you are precious in My eyes,
And shall not smart in vain.

I see your hearts, at present, filled
With grief, and deep distress;
But soon these bitter seeds shall yield
The fruits of righteousness.

Break through the clouds, dear Lord, and shine!
Let us perceive Thee nigh!
And to each mourning child of Thine
These gracious words apply.

-- From Ol­ney Hymns (Lon­don: W. Ol­i­ver, 1779), num­ber 135.

(You can listen to the tune by clicking here: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/f/f/afflictions.htm.)

Purpose of this Blog

This blog is intended for Latter-day Saints and those familiar with LDS teachings. Its purpose is to increase readers' faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as He is made known in the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price, revealed through the Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith. In particular, it will highlight and comment upon passages in those scriptures that encourage us to entrust our lives entirely to God.

The name of the blog is from the last verse of the hymn, "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go," which reads:

There’s surely somewhere a lowly place
In earth’s harvest fields so wide
Where I may labor through life’s short day
For Jesus, the Crucified.
So trusting my all to thy tender care,
And knowing thou lovest me,
I’ll do thy will with a heart sincere:
I’ll be what you want me to be.

I am not a spokesperson for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the thoughts expressed in this blog are not official Church doctrine. They are my opinions and thoughts, for which I am entirely responsible.