Withstand Every Temptation of the Devil

You have assembled here on the Brigham Young University campus and at many other locations around the world in anticipation of hearing from Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. I am sorry to disappoint you. Elder Ballard is unable to be with you, and I am honored to have been asked to substitute for him. He wishes he were here, and I can assure you that I wish he were here as well. Again, I am honored to have been asked to substitute for him.
Exactly 50 years ago this very night, I was aboard an enormous and beautiful ocean liner approaching the docks of Southampton, England. I was about to commence my service as a missionary in the British Mission. At that time missionaries traveled to their foreign fields of labor by sea rather than by air. I do believe that Orville and Wilbur Wright had made their first flight by then, but it was still a long time ago.
I want you to know that I loved my mission. It meant so very much to me then and has continued through the years to be the symbol of so many things that are good in this life. The solidifying of my testimony was one of the greatest blessings of my mission. I had what I considered to be a strong testimony before I was called to serve, but teaching and testifying of divine truth caused that testimony to swell within my heart and soul in a way as to sustain me through any trial or challenging situation. I don’t know what I would do without the gospel. I will be forever grateful for my mission, for my testimony, and for the shield of protection I have felt through my faith in the Savior. That shield of faith has been my spiritual and moral protection through the years.
Faith in Jesus Christ, Our Best Defense against Temptation
That thought leads me to the central idea that I would like to leave with you tonight. In the Book of Mormon we read of Alma’s counsel and instruction to his son Helaman. Among other things, he admonished Helaman to “teach [the people] an everlasting hatred against sin and iniquity.” He urged him to “preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.” And now listen to these words. Alma said, “Teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ”(Alma 37:32–33). Do you see and sense the meaning and the power in that for you—indeed, for all of us?
Alma continued his instruction to Helaman, saying: “Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls.
“O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God. . . .
“Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good” (Alma 37:34–35, 37). This is marvelous and appropriate counsel for all of us, young or old.
The very best and most certain defense we have against the temptations of the devil is our faith in Christ, our faith in His great atoning sacrifice, our faith in and testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. With faith and testimony firmly and consciously in place, the fiery darts of the wicked one will not and cannot pierce our souls. I emphasize having faith and testimony not just firmly in place but consciously in place. If you are consciously thinking of the Savior, you will not allow temptations to overpower you. More importantly, if you have the Savior and your faith in Him firmly and consciously in your mind and your heart, you will not allow yourselves even to get into tempting situations. Said another way, let your faith in Christ keep you out of the devil’s territory. Should it be needed, let your faith in Christ prompt a “Joseph experience” in your life. You remember Joseph, he who was sold into Egypt and became the favored servant for Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard. Potiphar’s wife had unholy intentions toward Joseph. But Joseph immediately and flatly refused and rejected her advances, saying, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” She pressed her intentions, and the scriptures tell us that Joseph fled, that he “got him[self] out” of that tempting situation. He withstood the temptations of the devil, even with his faith on the Lord Jesus Christ. (See Genesis 39:7–12.)
Children in elementary and primary schools around the world are taught the basic and essential elements of learning: reading, writing, and arithmetic. These are often referred to as the “three R’s.” Though the English letter r may not apply in all languages, we have all learned how to read, how to write, and how to solve basic mathematical problems. As I think about the basic and essential doctrines that underpin my faith, I again find three R’s: resurrection, revelation, and restoration. In these we learn much of what the Lord would have us carry to the world. In these we learn of the Savior Jesus Christ and His Atonement. In these we learn of how God communicates through His chosen servants. In these we learn of the Prophet Joseph Smith and of the Restoration of the gospel. Though these three are not inclusive of all the wonderful and illuminating doctrines of the gospel, in these we can find the basis of a faith that can strengthen us in withstanding every temptation of the devil. Books have been written about the Resurrection, revelation, and the Restoration. Obviously I can only touch lightly on each of them here tonight. Think with me and visualize having these doctrinal truths so firmly and consciously in your minds and hearts as to provide that sure defense against evil.
The Resurrection
The doctrine of the Resurrection is as old as the foundations of the world. It was and is an essential part of our Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness. The Lord taught Moses about His plan, including the Creation, the Fall of Adam, and the Atonement. Among many other things, He said, “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). It was in the plan that man would be redeemed from the Fall by and through the atoning sacrifice of the Savior Jesus Christ. Through the Fall of Adam came physical and spiritual death, not just to Adam and Eve but to all mankind. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ came the glorious promise of resurrection from the dead for all who have lived or will yet live upon the earth. Paul the Apostle wrote: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:20–22).
Physical death, as we all know, is the separation of the spirit from the body. Spiritual death is a separation of our spirits from the presence of God by sin. The Savior’s gift of the Resurrection removes the lasting effects of the physical death. All will be resurrected. Thus the immortality of man is provided as a free and unconditional gift through the grace of Christ. Immortality is life everlasting; while eternal life is life everlasting in the presence of God. To gain eternal life and overcome the effects of the spiritual death is also a gift from Christ, but this gift is conditional, requiring faithfulness and obedience on our part. Elder Neal A. Maxwell said: “Jesus’ glorious Atonement is the central act in all of human history! It provides the universal Resurrection; it makes our personal repentance and forgiveness possible. . . .
“Christ gave us freely an enormous and unconditional gift: the universal Resurrection. However, Christ’s proffer of the further gift of eternal life is conditional. . . . He sets the terms for receiving this great gift” (“Testifying of the Great and Glorious Atonement,” Ensign, Oct. 2001, 10–12).
President Joseph Fielding Smith said: “The atonement of Jesus Christ is of a twofold nature. Because of it, all men are redeemed from mortal death and the grave, and will rise in the resurrection to immortality of the soul. Then again, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel, man will receive remission of individual sins, through the blood of Christ, and will inherit exaltation in the kingdom of God, which is eternal life” (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 1:123).
Those who have suffered crippling injuries or who have been born with incapacitating handicaps are comforted by the marvelous promises of the Resurrection. Listen to these consoling words from the Book of Mormon: “Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death.
“The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame” (Alma 11:42–43).
“Yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame” (Alma 40:23). Even some of us with lesser handicaps are delighted with that verse of scripture.
“The atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence. . . .
“And thus God bringeth about his great and eternal purposes, which were prepared from the foundation of the world. And thus cometh about the salvation and the redemption of men” (Alma 42:23, 26).
In describing the blessings received through the Resurrection, President Joseph Fielding Smith said that resurrection saves man from the devil. “Immortality of the soul is the gift of God through the death and resurrection of his Son Jesus Christ. If the Savior had not died for the world, man would have remained in his sins. There could have been no resurrection from the dead and the physical body would have gone down into the grave without redemption, while the spirit would have become subject to the devil and his angels eternally” (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:283).
The Resurrection not only saves us from the devil in the eternities, but our firm and conscious faith in the Savior and His atoning sacrifice can save us from the devil in our daily lives. I ask you if this helps you to understand the connection between the doctrine of the Resurrection and the scriptural counsel that we “withstand every temptation of the devil, with [our] faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Several years ago a fine young woman came to me as her stake president. She was troubled over some challenges she was facing at the time. She said, “President Kerr, it’s so hard to be a Latter-day Saint.” We discussed her reasons for feeling that way. Our conversation led quite naturally to a discussion of the Savior and of His suffering for each of us. We spoke of His Resurrection and of its implications for our lives now and in the eternities. We then spoke of the Savior’s explanation to some of His followers of what was expected of them as disciples. We read from the scriptures where some felt the demands of their discipleship were too hard, and they turned their backs on the Savior and walked no more with Him (see John 6:66). The young sister sat quietly for a few thoughtful moments, and then with tears in her eyes, she said, “Oh, I couldn’t do that.” When I suggested that there is more than one way to turn our backs on the Savior, the light seemed to turn on in her mind and heart. She said, “Now I can see that if I truly love my Savior and keep Him in my mind and heart, I cannot violate His trust.” Then she said, “I want to change what I said when we first began this conversation. I now know that it would be hard not to be a Latter-day Saint.”
Continuing Revelation
Now, let us turn to the doctrine of divine and continuing revelation. The Lord said, “And again, I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived; for Satan is abroad in the land, and he goeth forth deceiving the nations” (D&C 52:14). An essential element in the Lord’s “pattern in all things” is the assurance we have of living prophets, seers, and revelators receiving divine revelation for the guidance and direction of the Church today. Personal revelation and inspiration are available to each of us through the Holy Spirit. But I am not speaking of that form of revelation. I am speaking of revelation through living prophets to and for the Church.
While serving in the British Mission, I was blessed to teach many people who loved the Bible and relied heavily on its divine message. As we taught the doctrine of continuing revelation, many responded with joy and wonderment—joy with the thought that God may be speaking again to chosen prophets but wonderment as to why they had not heard this divine principle taught in their own churches. They learned that continuing revelation was not only the source of divine truth but also the primary source of scripture. The recording and acceptance of newly revealed truths as scripture troubled those who believed the Bible to be the sole repository of all of God’s word. Yet the honest in heart embraced the doctrine of continuing revelation and new scripture as consistent with biblical patterns they believed but had not fully understood.
Elder Mark E. Petersen, who served for many years as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, described the significance of revelation to and for the Church when he said: “It is an infallible sign of the true church that it has in it divinely chosen, living prophets to guide it, men who receive current revelation from God and whose recorded works become new scripture.
“It is an infallible sign of the true church also that it will produce new and additional scripture arising out of the ministrations of those prophets. This unfailing pattern of God is clearly made manifest through his dealings with his people from the beginning” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1978, 95–96; or Ensign, May 1978, 62). I feel that Elder Petersen captured in a profound way the message of continuing revelation.
The Lord reveals His will to His chosen prophets, seers, and revelators. As the Lord puts it into their hearts to teach that which they have received, the people are blessed with divine knowledge communicated through those revelations. Revealed truth is recorded, and in the Lord’s time and infinite wisdom, some of those revelations may be formally added to the canon of scripture.
The doctrine of continuing revelation, with its resulting new scripture, is a distinctive feature of the Restoration. It is descriptive of the very process by which the Restoration occurred. Amos in the Old Testament said, “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).
The Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ was the result of many heaven-sent revelations. These revelations were given primarily to a latter-day prophet chosen, prepared, and ordained for that divine purpose. Our message to all the world is that Joseph Smith was that chosen prophet. It is our witness that God has again spoken and is still speaking, revealing His secret unto His servants the living prophets.
A testimony of this truth is of enormous comfort and gives us unending confidence in the prophetic voice we are blessed to hear and read on a regular basis.
One of the highlights of my mission was my own personal experience with the doctrine of revelation. As I searched the scriptures daily in my effort to prepare myself to teach the people, I was taken by the wonder of the unfolding revelations of the Lord, both ancient and modern. I am not a doubter by nature, but I enjoy the search for scriptural and logical evidences of the beliefs that have come to me by study and by faith. For a time my scriptural search was dominated by a logical premise that I had formulated in my mind. I had thought, “If the claims of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regarding continuing revelation are sound, the means by which revelations were received by the Prophet Joseph Smith must be consistent with the means by which revelations were received by Old and New Testament prophets and apostles.” Now, do you understand the premise? I needed to know that there was that consistency—modern-day revelations and how they were received with how revelations were received in ancient times.
Time this evening does not allow me to describe all that I found in that search, but let me say to you that the Lord’s pattern became very clear. Revelations to prophets have come by very consistent means. These means can be described and defined with different terminology and may be divided or grouped differently, but the distinct pattern is there. I identified five very specific means by which revelations have been given to God’s prophets. I found multiple examples of each of those throughout the scriptures. This pattern is consistently found in all the scriptures, ancient and modern. Now, maybe on another occasion I can talk about the five means of revelation and show you that consistent pattern of those scriptures, ancient and modern.
The knowledge of this glorious truth strengthened my faith then and continues even today to strengthen my faith now. To know that we have a living prophet who receives revelations from God, just as Abraham and Moses and Isaiah and Peter and Paul and others, is of enormous comfort and reassurance.
Each of you must come to your own knowledge and testimony of this divine principle. But you can have every confidence in the testimony that I am sharing with you tonight. Even now you can keep firmly and consciously in your minds an awareness and conviction that God is speaking to His chosen and living prophets today even as He did anciently. A testimony of the doctrine of continuing revelation will bolster your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and thus strengthen you in your resolve to withstand every temptation of the devil.
If you should face a moment of serious temptation, force yourself to think of President Gordon B. Hinckley. Think of him as a prophet, seer, and revelator who receives direct revelation from the Lord for the Church. Think of the revelation he received regarding the construction of small temples all around the world, making the sacred blessings of the temple available to an ever greater number of the members of the Church. Allow the conscious thought of a living prophet receiving current revelation regarding sacred temples to turn you away from that tempting moment and preserve your worthiness to receive those sacred temple blessings. We do indeed “believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God” (Articles of Faith 1:9).
Restoration of the Gospel
We have talked, and I hope you have thought deeply, about the Resurrection and about revelation. Let us now talk about the Restoration. We are here because of the Restoration. While a basic knowledge of the Resurrection and of revelation can be had from ancient scripture, most of what we know about these important doctrines has come as a result of the Restoration of the gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith. The message of the Restoration is that God lives, Jesus is the living Christ, the gospel has been restored to the earth in its fulness, Joseph Smith truly was and is a modern-day prophet of God, Gordon B. Hinckley is a living prophet today, and the Book of Mormon is the word of God, standing now and forever with the Bible as one in the hands of the Lord.
There would have been no need for a restoration had there not first been a loss of truth, which occurred not many years following the Savior’s earthly ministry. That loss of truth, known as the Great Apostasy, was seen and foretold by Old and New Testament prophets. The Lord established His Church in all its purity, and He bestowed the holy priesthood upon His disciples. Now is not the time for detailing the causes of the Apostasy and loss of the priesthood, but even the most casual look at religious history will affirm its reality. The Old Testament prophet Amos prophesied of this loss of truth. He said: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:
“And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it” (Amos 8:11–12).
Not long after the Savior’s Ascension into heaven, Peter foresaw the Restoration. He said: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
“And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
“Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:19–21).
Speaking of the Second Coming of the Savior, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). It was known that there would be both a falling away and a restoration before the Second Coming.
These prophecies and many others not mentioned have truly been fulfilled, and we are the beneficiaries of the great blessings flowing from the Lord’s hand in our lives. President Hinckley said: “These are the days of restitution. These are the days of the restoration spoken of in the Holy Bible plainly and forcefully by Peter the Apostle and by Paul. I repeat, you and I are a part of prophecy fulfilled, a part of the divine plan of the God of heaven, that there should be a falling away and that there must be a restoration” (“Inspirational Thoughts,” Ensign, June 2004, 4).
The restoration of all things as foretold by ancient prophets of God did indeed occur through the ministry and heavenly manifestations of God the Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; Peter, James, and John; John the Baptist; Moses; Elijah; Moroni; and others of the Lord’s prophets in ancient times. Joseph Smith was foreordained to his sacred role as the instrument through whom God would bring to pass the Restoration of the gospel in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times. Even the Savior Himself bore witness of this truth. He said: “Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments; . . .
“. . . That it might be fulfilled, which was written by the prophets . . .
“That faith also might increase in the earth;
“That mine everlasting covenant might be established;
“That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers” (D&C 1:17–18, 21–23).
What more can be said? The Savior’s own testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith! He spoke to him from heaven and gave him commandments. Did you also notice that one line? “That faith also might increase in the earth.” The Restoration of the gospel stands as a bulwark to our faith in our defense against the designs of the evil one. It is my prayer that you will keep these truths firmly and consciously in your minds and in your hearts. I plead with you, even as King Benjamin pled with his people when he said, “Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things” (Mosiah 5:15).
Conclusion
May I conclude with a summarizing quote from President Hinckley: “This is God’s holy work. It is divine in its origin and in its doctrine. Jesus Christ [the resurrected Lord and Savior] stands as its head. He is our immortal Savior and Redeemer. His revelation is the source of our doctrine, our faith, our teaching, in fact the underlying pattern of our lives. Joseph Smith was an instrument in the hands of the Almighty in bringing to pass this Restoration. And that basic element of revelation is with the Church today as it was in Joseph’s day.
“Our individual testimonies of these truths are the basis of our faith. We must nurture them. We must cultivate them. We can never forsake them. We can never lay them aside. Without them we have nothing. With them we have everything” (in Conference Report, Apr. 2001, 111–12; or Ensign, May 2001, 85).
I leave with you my witness of the divinity of the Savior. He lives! I testify that the reality of the Resurrection, the relevance of revelation, and the reliability of the Restoration will increase your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and help you withstand every temptation of the devil. I leave with you my testimony, my love, and my blessing to that end, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Beginnings

Thank you, President Price, for those kind remarks. President Hugh B. Brown once told me, “It’s all right to hear these nice things about you, as long as you don’t inhale.”
I took a fall four weeks ago tonight. I am getting over it; I still have to be a little careful about moving. I bring to you the love and the greetings of President Gordon B. Hinckley and President Thomas S. Monson. President Hinckley is doing just fine, just fine. In my opinion he couldn’t be doing better than he is. Of course, it is just remarkable how bright and able and sharp he is.
I’m not going to speak long tonight. I would rather give you young people an opportunity to socialize, and I encourage you to do so. We will make a special dispensation tonight, and that is when you say good-bye to each other at the end of the evening, you can shake hands. I see a lot of very lovely young ladies and handsome young men, and I would say to the young men, “Open your eyes!” And I’ll say further to the young men: “If you provide the works, I’ll provide the faith.”
I appreciate the opportunity to speak to you students and companions tonight on this satellite broadcast. It is also a pleasure to greet the members of the institute faculty and your leaders, many of whom I have been privileged to know for many years.
I should like to take as a text for my remarks part of Paul’s message to the Thessalonians: “Beloved of the Lord, . . . God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13). Here Paul says you were chosen from the beginning. There are many beginnings. Some of you are beginning your important educational career. How you start and where you are going is of transcending importance. Paul said you were chosen to salvation “through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” Let us speak further of beginnings.
The Start
This may be a beginning for you tonight.
As a young man I used to run races in competition in high school and later at university. We used to train diligently for the race. We would stretch ourselves by running farther than the distance we were going to race. We would watch our diets. We would do a myriad of things to prepare ourselves for our track meets. And in the sprints, the start was particularly important. We would measure carefully our stance—and then check it again before we ever put our starting blocks into position. We would pound the starting blocks into the cinders, get into starting position, and go up and down a time or two to get the feel. We would actually make two or three practice starts. We knew that if we did not prepare and get a good start, we could not hope to finish in front. The Apostle Paul gave us this insightful admonition: “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain” (1 Corinthians 9:24). Well, of course, the prize is eternal life.
I have found that in accomplishing just about anything, the most difficult part is getting started. A wise man has said, “He has half the deed done, who has made a beginning.”1 My father was a lawyer and a judge. When I began to practice law, he cautioned me: “Get the pleadings straight in the beginning. If the pleadings are right, the whole case will flow along much smoother.”
New Beginnings
I am grateful for all new beginnings. Every hour can be a new beginning. Every day can be a new beginning. Every month can be a new beginning. Every year can be a new beginning. Indeed, every moment can be an opportunity to improve.
Dale Carnegie gave us this good advice: “Don’t be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves.”
New Opportunities
During the past few years there have been mergers of big companies, bankruptcies, and public scandals in the business world. Here in the United States we endured the terrible events of September 11 and its aftereffects. We have had floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and other disasters worldwide. It has been a time for caution and reserve. Yet for those who have been bold enough, innovative enough, creative enough, and wise enough, there have been as many opportunities as ever. Out of every tragedy comes an opportunity. When Thomas Edison’s laboratory burned down, he immediately began the next day building a better one.
In Leicester, England, there is an inscription on the outside wall of an old church that bears a remarkably fine thought. The inscription reads: “In the year 1653 when all things sacred were throughout this nation either demolished or profaned, Sir Robert Shirley Baronet founded this church. Whose singular praise it is to have done the best things in the worst times, and hoped them in the most calamitous.”2
Sometimes as we face new beginnings, it becomes necessary to change or readjust our course when a goal or choice we had in mind is not available to us. For instance, you may not be accepted to the school you always wanted to attend or the door is closed to the career path you wanted to pursue or a special person in your life chooses to marry someone else. At such times it is important to realize that other choices are available to you and new beginnings are possible. Surely, as one door closes, another door opens.
Some young friends of ours learned the asphalt paving business by working for a large paving company for several years. It appeared that the opportunities for management and ownership would not become available within that company, so they decided they would start their own company. Of course there were great obstacles. One was limited capital. They would have to borrow money to provide for the deficit in their operating capital. They would also have to make enough in the way of a profit to service the interest on the borrowed money. They sought the advice of an uncle who had been a successful businessman, and he told them: “This is the time. There will never be a better time. My counsel to you is to make your move.” They made their move, and by carefully and cautiously husbanding their limited capital, they were able to start the business and have a very successful first year.
My dear young friends, 2006 and every year is a year for new opportunities. Charles Dickens laid the foundation for his book A Tale of Two Cities with the following introduction: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us.”
The Courage to Change
Nothing is static. Everything changes. We need the courage to make necessary changes in our lives. The thoughtful philosopher Bruce Barton suggested: “Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change—this is the rhythm of living. Out of our over-confidence, fear; out of our fear, clearer vision, fresh hope. And out of hope, progress.”3
For those who can adapt, who can bend, who can modify, who can improve, lies great opportunity. Sometimes we need to have the strength not to take counsel from our fears. This takes courage.
Nehru, the great leader of India, said: “Nothing in the world that is alive remains unchanging. All Nature changes from day to day and minute to minute, only the dead stop growing and are quiescent. Fresh water runs on, and if you stop it, it becomes stagnant. So also is it with the life of man [and of a woman] and the life of a nation.”4
New Spiritual Beginnings
Since the spirit is the most important essence of all human activity, it is tremendously important that we have frequent and regular spiritual renewals. It should happen to us weekly as we partake of the sacrament. Each week gives to us new opportunities to improve, to learn, and to make new friends. We might take advantage of new challenges for missionary work among our friends and neighbors. Every day gives us a new opportunity to study the scriptures.
May I suggest six beginning, essential measures that will greatly clear the channel for a daily flow of “living water” from the very source of the spring, even the Savior Himself.
1. Have daily communication involving prayer. A fervent, sincere prayer is a two-way communication that will do much to bring His Spirit flowing like healing water to help with the trials, hardships, aches, and pains we all face. What is the quality of our secret prayers when only He listens? As we pray, we should think of Him as being close by; full of knowledge, understanding, love, and compassion; the essence of power; and having great expectations of each of us.
2. Give daily selfless service to another. The followers of the divine Christ have to be weighed on the scales of what their actions are rather than the solemn professions of belief. The true measure of service is found in Matthew: “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these . . . , ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40). Those who think about others more than they think about themselves and do kind acts of service are always the happiest of people. Indeed, as a wise man once observed, “The man who lives by himself and for himself is likely to be corrupted by the company he keeps.”5
3. Strive for daily increased obedience and perfection in our lives. This means we have to consciously strive every day to keep God’s commandments. This means watching our thoughts and actions and on a daily basis “trying to be like Jesus,” as the Primary song says.6 Because of the perfect Atonement of Jesus, just men may be made perfect (see D&C 76:69). As Jesus Himself counseled: “What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am” (3 Nephi 27:27).
4. Offer a daily acknowledgment of His divinity. To have a daily, personal relationship with the Master, we must be His disciples and acknowledge His importance in our lives. As King Benjamin reminded us, “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).
5. Engage in daily study of the scriptures. This requires some planning and discipline, but daily scripture study will strengthen our faith and help us live the gospel more fully. President Spencer W. Kimball has said: “I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures, the distance narrows and the spirituality returns.”7
6. Do something. Television has made of us a nation of spectators. The best athletic contests in the world come into our home free of charge. The finest music is available to us on the public broadcasting stations. We can hear Itzak Perlman play the violin. We can hear the great tenor, Pavarotti, sing the favorites of Caruso: “Torna a Surriento,” “Ladonna emobile,” “Questa oquella,” and watch him as they are staged. Being spectators, however, requires little or no effort on our part. As the Apostle James said, we need to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22).
I fear we have become a generation of critics. I am inclined to be more charitable with those who try even if they stumble than with those who will not try at all. Theodore Roosevelt said this about critics and doers: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”8
I have spent a lifetime making my living in an arena where I was not shadowboxing with life’s problems. I have learned from this experience that life is fuller and richer and better for those who are not afraid to make a new beginning. My experience has also been that genius is very rare, that most of life’s rich rewards come to those who prepare carefully. Preparation and staying power are more valuable than brilliance. Herbert George Wells insightfully remarked, “The past is but the beginning of a beginning, and all that is and has been is but the twilight of the dawn.”9
Some time ago I attended a stake conference. Before the other meetings of the conference began, I had a private meeting with the stake president, who wanted to discuss a problem he was having with one of his high councilors. Some 10 years ago this high councilor had been involved in a grave sin, the penalty for which should have been excommunication. The high councilor had never made a confession. Short of making a confession and being willing to accept the punishment that would follow, however, the high councilor had done all in his power to rectify the matter and live so as to enjoy the blessings of the Church. The stake president did not learn of the transgression from the high councilor but from a collateral source who swore the stake president to secrecy. The stake president felt obliged to respect the confidence.
In a public meeting where the high councilor was present, the stake president spoke concerning repentance. He was really directing his remarks to one person—that high councilor—pleading and urging that he come forward voluntarily, make a confession, and begin the road to repentance.
My heart ached for the high councilor because had he come forward when the incident first occurred, it would by this time have been possible for him to have the whole matter put to rest. He could have had a new beginning. But without his confession and willingness to accept the punishment, there could be no new beginning. Surely repentance is one of the great principles of the gospel. No one is perfect, and we all need to invoke this principle from time to time. For those who have been involved in serious transgressions, however, it is a life-saving principle. The longer we go down the wrong road, the harder it is to come back and get on the right road.
I wish to express my appreciation for the redeeming principles of the sweet gospel of Jesus Christ. The principles taught by Jesus are available to all of us. As we live these principles, we will have a sure witness of the divinity of this holy work. I believe, as Paul said, you are beloved of the Lord and that from the beginning you were indeed chosen to salvation (see 2 Thessalonians 2:13). As Alma instructed, we have holy callings “prepared from the foundation of the world” (Alma 13:5). These include missionary service, motherhood, fatherhood, and service in the Church.
It is now my privilege and blessing to leave you my witness and blessing. I do so as one of the special witnesses, declaring to you with all of the conviction of my being and every cell of my body, from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet, that Jesus is the Christ and the Redeemer of the world and our Savior, the head of this Church. I know that He is close to the leadership of this Church. I know that His Spirit is available to all of us individually and in our callings. He lives. There is no question about that. I can testify with the same conviction and sureness as the brother of Jared. As he saw the finger of God, it is written, he believed no more, for he knew (see Ether 3:6,19).
I know, and I testify in the words of Peter. When some of the Saints began to fall away and the Savior became discouraged and said to the Twelve, “Will ye also go away?” Peter replied: “To whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:67–69). By and through that same authority, I testify concerning His divinity and His being. I know this with a certainty that exceeds the knowledge that comes through our visual senses, for it is given to us by the Spirit to know with greater certainty than by our physical senses.
I would like to invoke upon each of you an apostolic blessing, you wonderful young people, you people of promise, and I pray that you will prepare yourselves for your great destiny, that you will stay close to the principles of righteousness and truth, and that you will be guided by the Holy Spirit with the promise you know of the Holy Ghost, that by and through that power you shall know the truth of all things. What greater promise to a student than that—to enjoy the companionship of the Holy Ghost? I invoke that blessing upon you and pray that our Heavenly Father will watch over you in all of your comings and goings and guide your footsteps in paths of truth and righteousness, that you will be wise beyond your years, and that you will be sensitive to your great destiny and your great promise. I leave this testimony with you and invoke these blessings upon you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

Led by Spiritual Pioneers

This summer we mark 159 years since the pioneers, under the inspired leadership of Brigham Young, entered the valley of the Great Salt Lake and proclaimed: "This is the right place. Drive on."1
Often we honor the great leaders and followers on this historic journey, but I wish to call attention to other "pioneers" who preceded that trek. In doing so I pause and ponder the dictionary definition of the word pioneer: "One who goes before to prepare or open up the way for others to follow."2
Let us turn back the clock of time and journey to other places, that we might review several who I feel meet the high standard of the word pioneer.
Such a one was Moses. Raised in Pharaoh's court and learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, he became mighty in words and deeds. One cannot separate Moses, the great lawgiver, from the tablets of stone provided him by God and on which were written the Ten Commandments. They were binding then—they are binding now.
Moses endured constant frustration as some of his trusted followers returned to their previous ways. Though he was disappointed in their actions, yet he loved them and led them, even the children of Israel, from their Egyptian bondage. Certainly Moses qualifies as a pioneer.
Another who qualifies is Ruth, who forsook her people, her kindred, and her country in order to accompany her mother-in-law, Naomi—worshipping Jehovah in His land and adopting the ways of His people. How very important was Ruth's obedience to Naomi and the resulting marriage to Boaz by which Ruth—the foreigner and a Moabite convert—became a great-grandmother of David and therefore an ancestress of Jesus Christ.
The book of the Holy Bible that bears her name contains language poetic in style, reflective of her spirit of determination and courage. "And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
"Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me."3
Yes, Ruth, precious Ruth, was a pioneer.
Other faithful women also qualify, such as Mary, the mother of Jesus; Mary Magdalene; Esther; and Elisabeth. Let us not overlook Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, nor fail to include Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and some from a later period.
One Who Went Before
We remember John the Baptist. His clothing was simple, his life spartan, his message brief: faith, repentance, baptism by immersion, and the bestowal of the Holy Ghost by an authority greater than that possessed by himself. He declared: "I am not the Christ, but . . . I am sent before him."4 "I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh . . . : he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire."5
The river Jordan marked the historic meeting place when Jesus came down from Galilee to be baptized of John. At first John pleaded with the Master: "I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?"6 Came the response: "It becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. . . . And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."7
John freely declared and taught, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."8
Of John, the Lord declared, "Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist."9
Like so many other pioneers through the annals of history, John wore the martyr's crown.
The Savior's Apostles
Many who were pioneers in spirit and action were called by Jesus to be His Apostles. Much could be told of each.
Peter was among the first of Jesus's disciples. Peter the fisherman, in response to a divine call, laid aside his nets and hearkened to the Master's declaration: Come "follow me, and I will make you [a fisher] of men."10 I never think of Peter without admiring his testimony of the Lord: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."11
John the Beloved is the only one of the Twelve recorded as being at the Crucifixion of Christ. From the cruel cross Jesus uttered the magnificent charge to John, referring to His mother, Mary: "Behold thy mother,"12 and to Mary, "Behold thy son."13
The Apostles went before, showing others the way to follow. They were pioneers.
History records, however, that most men did not come unto Christ, nor did they follow the way He taught. Crucified was the Lord, slain were most of the Apostles, rejected was the truth. The bright sunlight of enlightenment slipped away, and the lengthening shadows of a black night enshrouded the earth.
Generations before, Isaiah had prophesied, "Darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people."14 Amos had foretold of a famine in the land: "Not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord."15 The dark ages of history seemed never to end. Would no heavenly messengers make their appearance?
Looking for the Light
In due time honest men with yearning hearts, at the peril of their very lives, attempted to establish points of reference, that they might find the true way. The day of the Reformation was dawning, but the path ahead was difficult. Persecutions would be severe, personal sacrifice overwhelming, and the cost beyond calculation. The reformers were pioneers, blazing wilderness trails in a desperate search for those lost points of reference that they felt would lead mankind back to the truth Jesus taught.
Wycliffe, Luther, Hus, Zwingli, Knox, Calvin, and Tyndale all pioneered during the period of the Reformation. Significant was the declaration of Tyndale to his critics: "I will cause a boy that driveth the plough shall know more of the scripture than thou doest."16
Such were the teachings and lives of the great reformers. Their deeds were heroic, their contributions many, their sacrifices great—but they did not restore the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Of the reformers, one could ask: "Was their sacrifice in vain? Was their struggle futile?" I answer with a reasoned no. The Holy Bible was now within the grasp of the people. Each person could better find his or her way. Oh, if only all could read and all could understand! But some could read, and others could hear, and all had access to God through prayer.
The long-awaited day of restoration did indeed come. Let us review that significant event in the history of the world by recalling the testimony of the plowboy who became a prophet, the witness who was there—even Joseph Smith.
The Morning Breaks
Describing his experience, Joseph said: "I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."17
"At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. . . .
" . . . I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. . . .
" . . . I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. . . .
" . . . I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. . . .
" . . . When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"18
The Father and the Son, Jesus Christ, had appeared to Joseph Smith. The morning of the dispensation of the fulness of times had come, dispelling the darkness of the long generations of spiritual night.
Volumes have been written concerning the life and accomplishments of Joseph Smith, but perhaps a highlight or two will suffice: He was visited by the angel Moroni. He translated, from the precious plates to which he was directed, the Book of Mormon, with its new witness of Christ to all the world. He was the instrument in the hands of the Lord through whom came mighty revelations pertaining to the establishment of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the course of his ministry he was visited by John the Baptist, Moses, Elijah, Peter, James, and John, that the Restoration of all things might be accomplished. He endured persecution; he suffered grievously, as did his followers. He trusted in God. He was true to his prophetic calling. He commenced a marvelous missionary effort to the entire world, which today brings light and truth to the souls of mankind. At length Joseph Smith died the martyr's death, as did his brother Hyrum.
Joseph Smith was a pioneer indeed.
One Who Changed the World
Turning the pages of scriptural history from beginning to end, we learn of the ultimate pioneer—even Jesus Christ. His birth was foretold by the prophets of old; His entry upon the stage of life was announced by an angel. His life and His ministry have transformed the world.
With the birth of the babe in Bethlehem, there emerged a great endowment, a power stronger than weapons, a wealth more lasting than the coins of Caesar. This child was to be the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Promised Messiah, even Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, He came forth from heaven to live on earth as mortal man and to establish the kingdom of God. During His earthly ministry, He taught men the higher law. His glorious gospel reshaped the thinking of the world. He blessed the sick. He caused the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear. He even raised the dead to life.
One sentence from the book of Acts speaks volumes: Jesus "went about doing good, . . . for God was with him."19
He taught us to pray: "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."20
In the garden known as Gethsemane, where His suffering was so great that blood came from His pores, He pleaded as He prayed, "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."21
He taught us to serve: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."22
He taught us to forgive: "I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men."23
He taught us to love: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
"This is the first and great commandment.
"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."24
Like the true pioneer He was, He invited, "Come, follow me."25
Let us turn to Capernaum. There Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came to the Master, saying, "My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live."26 Then came the news from the ruler's house: "Thy daughter is dead."27
Christ responded, "Be not afraid, only believe."28 He came to the house, passed by the mourners, and said to them: "Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn,"29 knowing that she was dead. "He . . . put them all out. . . . And he took [her] by the hand, and said unto her, . . . Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. . . . And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; . . . and they were astonished."30
The First to Rise
It is emotionally draining for me to recount the events leading up to the Crucifixion of the Master. I cringe when I read of Pilate responding to cries of the throng: "Crucify him, crucify him."31 Pilate "took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it."32 Jesus was mocked. He was spit upon and a crown of thorns placed upon His head. He was given vinegar to drink. They crucified Him.
His body was placed in a borrowed tomb, but no tomb could hold the body of the Lord. On the morning of the third day came the welcome message to Mary Magdalene, to Mary the mother of James, and to other women who were with them as they came to the tomb, saw the large entrance stone rolled away, and noted the tomb was empty. Two angels said to the weeping women: "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen."33
Yes, the Lord had indeed risen. He appeared to Mary; He was seen by Cephas, or Peter, then by His brethren of the Twelve. He was seen by Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, who declared: "This is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God."34
Our Mediator, our Redeemer, our Brother, our Advocate with the Father died for our sins and the sins of all mankind. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the foreordained but voluntary act of the Only Begotten Son of God. He offered His life as a redeeming ransom for us all.
His mission, His ministry among men, His teachings of truth, His acts of mercy, His unwavering love for us prompt our gratitude and warm our hearts. Jesus Christ, Savior of the world—even the Son of God—was and is the ultimate pioneer, for He has gone before, showing all others the way to follow. May we ever follow Him.