The Lord Speaks

As expected, here is my semi-annual General Conference report of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This conference was as great as every other conference I've listened to. Elder Holland's talk was beautiful and the General Priesthood session was filled with great council. I wanted to write about Elder Hales' talk though, if only because it was the first one I have re-read since conference ended, and because it was very wise council for our times. (Elder Robert D. Hales, Becoming Provident Providers: Temporally and Spiritually, General Conference April 2009)

My wife and I had been exploring a job opportunity that had some great upsides, but just as many downsides. It seemed like there was no clear answer - at least to me, because I really wanted to accept it. After Elder Hales' talk, I knew that we needed to sit down and read it together and that the answer to our situation would be apparent.

We finally made the time to do so, and within the first couple of paragraphs I had my answer. We finished reading the talk and we both knew what we should do. I had the impression that if I took this job, we'd be so caught up in trying to make ends meet that the good habits we are trying to establish would begin to slip. I knew that we needed to be better prepared spiritually and temporally before we took such a step.

The impression was so real that I thought I had read those words in the talk itself. After I told my wife my thoughts, I tried to find the section of the talk I thought it came from. I could not find those words. I was a little surprised by this and was so sure that I had read something about losing spiritual strength by incurring debt that I read the talk again. After a little searching, I finally found the sentence that must have triggered the thought. Speaking of debt and addiction, Elder Hales said, "All of these excesses affect us individually and undermine our family relationships."

After I read that sentence it was like someone said to me, "If you take this job, you will not be the husband and father you need to be." Although those words were not in Elder Hales' talk, I know where they came from: the Lord speaks to us when we open our hearts to the prompting of the Holy Ghost and are willing to submit our will to His.

When we sit down to study, pray, or listen to a church talk or lesson with the intent and expectation to learn and hear the Lord's voice, and obey it, He will always speak to us (in His own time and way of course). I just read this quote from President Hinckley that affirms this conviction; "Call upon the Lord. He has extended the invitation, and He will answer” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [1997], 469).

I know that to be true. The Lord lives and He speaks to us. We just have to wait patiently and listen. I am anxious to go through the other talks and hear what the Lord wants me to know and do.

The glory of Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ

Referring to Jesus Christ, Doctrine and Covenants 88:6-13 reads:

6 He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth;
7 Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made.
8 As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made;
9 As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made;
10 And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand.
11 And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understanding;
12 Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—
13 The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things.

I cannot remember what lead me to this verse, but I remember how I felt then and how I feel now. I felt that even through all my years of studying the scriptures and learning about God and Jesus Christ, through all the witnesses I have had about their existence and love by the power of the Holy Ghost, feeling their presence and forgiveness, my understanding of their glory, power, and purity was no more than that of a newborn baby. I can say that I know they are glorious. I know they are Omnipotent. I know they are pure. But I do not have the slightest idea as to the extent of these characteristics.

Several weeks went by and I came across this quote by the Prophet Joseph Smith:

"I cannot believe in any of the creeds of the different denominations, because they all have some things in them I cannot subscribe to, though all of them have some truth. I want to come up into the presence of God, and learn all things; but the creeds set up stakes [limits], and say, ‘Hitherto shalt thou come, and no further’ [Job 38:11]; which I cannot subscribe to."
"I say to all those who are disposed to set up stakes for the Almighty, You will come short of the glory of God." ( Chapter 22: Gaining Knowledge of Eternal Truths,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, (2007), 264).

This just confirmed to me what I had felt; that I cannot now comprehend the glory of God. However, I know that I can learn little by little through experience and further witnesses of the Holy Ghost. And eventually, I hope that I can know Him. For now, I am content to appreciate His greatness and will try to "feast upon the words of Christ" (2 Nephi 32:3) that I may come to know Him more completely so I can "love Him more deeply and obey Him more completely." (The Grandeur of God, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, (Oct. 2003 General Conference)).

Although my understanding is limited, I know that God lives. That we are His children and He is keenly aware of each of us. I know that Jesus Christ is His literal Son and the Savior and Redeemer of the world. I also know that we can come to know Him and His Son, by obedience and prayer. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (St. John 17:3). I love the children's song, Beautiful Savior, and I want to end with that. I love God and His Son. They are beautiful and I thank Them for showing me, an imperfect and sometimes rebellious son, mercy and love.

Beautiful Savior:

Fair is the sunshine,
Fairer the moonlight
And all the stars in heav'n above.
Jesus shines brighter,
Jesus shines purer
And brings to all the world his love.

Fair are the meadows,
Fairer the woodlands,
Robbed in the flowers of blooming spring.
Jesus is fairer,
Jesus is purer.
He makes the sorrowing spirit sing.

Beautiful Savior!
Lord of the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Thee will I honor, praise, and give glory,
Give praise and glory evermore!