Learning How to Invite

We are trained to give the Sunday School answers. They are learned, innate, and rote, and we can provide them at the drop of a hat. When asked, "how do we invite the Spirit in our lives?" we invariably respond, "pray, read the scriptures, and attend our church meetings." How many times have you heard that? I reckon countless times...we've known them since Sunday School, for cryin' out loud!

There's a like response that occurs in the face of the Lord's ever-important admonition:

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

In Stake Conference this weekend we were pleased to have Elder Lowell M. Snow as our visiting General Authority. He spoke to us about many things, but something that impacted me revolved around the above scripture. Assuming that God's work and glory is also our work and glory, we can see that we are to bring about the immortality and eternal life of man. Well, with the Resurrection of the Savior we know that all will live again, which means that all we have to do is bring about the eternal life of man, or helping man live like God does.

This is done as we fulfill our purpose, which is the same for everyone, but published in Preach My Gospel:

Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in
Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and
enduring to the end. (PMG, p. 1)

When we visit those within our stewardship, is this what we invite them to do? All too often, home and visiting teaching turns into the same rote performance that all 12 year-olds in the Church know how to recite. We share a message from the Ensign, ask if there's anything we can do for them, and when they respond there isn't, we assume that all is well, and that are tally mark is more meaningful. Or, if we are in reactivation efforts, we visit the family, invite them back to church, and when they don't return, chock it up to their agency (which is still true), or that it just "isn't their time yet."

It will always be their time! Although Heavenly Father does not force blessings upon anyone, he is always willing to grant them, as long as we ask for them. And if those we teach have become unfamiliar with this doctrine, it is ever more our responsibility to invite them to come unto Christ.

So how do we invite? In Elder Snow's words, "we stop worrying about doing, and start becoming." I believe that in the hustle and bustle of life, we often neglect the spirit of our service, and turn it into a list that we must check off. Inviting others to come unto to Christ may still take the form of its constituents (e.g., inviting a less-active member to come to church), but it carries more meaning as pound-for-pound there is more Christlike love driving it home. The Lord said, "when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." (Luke 22:32) So, when we invite those within our stewardship to make commitments, we are inviting them to be converted as we are. When we are converted, we keep commitments or covenants not because it is socially desirable to do so, but because we know that blessings will come as we do so. We know that they lead us toward living as God is, even eternal life.

I know that these things are true. I am ever grateful for the knowledge that I have regarding the love that the Savior has for me personally, and pray that we may all feel of this love, even unto the strengthening of our brothers and sisters as we invite them to come unto Christ.

Have a great week!

The Miracle of the Metaphor

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

--Isaiah 12:2-3

Isn't it great that we have metaphors? The purpose of metaphors is to compare a real but often complex concept to another real concept that is more easily understood. In the above scripture, it's safe to say that salvation does not come by physically going to a well and drawing water from it; however, we come to learn through our deductive reasoning that Christ is often represented by "living waters" (e.g., John 4: 7-15; 7:38), and that turning unto him through sincere prayer, repentance, and service is like going to a well, and drawing water out. In my opinion, there is a miracle in using metaphors: it is not the metaphor itself, but the fact that these comparisons can be used in such a way that "pierce[s] them that [do] hear to the center, insomuch that there [is] no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake" (3 Nephi 11: 3)

How is this done? It must needs be through the Spirit itself, which bears witness to our Spirits, that we are children of God (see Romans 8:16). The fact that we are children of God is universal, and is a trait that every inhabitant of the earth can boast. However, in our fallen state we often lose sight of basic, eternal truths that we held dear in the preexistence. Luckily, the Savior left the Spirit to testify and "remind" us of these truths. This is performed through an ethereal interaction not yet understood by modern science, where the Holy Ghost communicates with the spirit inside of each one of us, testifying of eternal truths.

So, it must needs be that the miracle of the metaphor be tied to familiarity, that it might fully pierce our being with tacit meaning.

In Helaman 5: 30 we learn about the voice of the Holy Ghost, the third member of the Godhead:

And it came to pass when they heard this voice, and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul—

When talking about spiritual metaphors or parables, the miracle has an extra wrinkle: readiness to listen and understand on the part of the recipient. We need to be in touch with the "perfect mildness" by which the Spirit speaks to us. A great scriptural example can be found in the Book of John. Like many Pharisees, Nicodemus was a literal thinker, and didn't easily take to understanding the words of the Savior. Nevertheless, he traveled to Jesus under the cover of nightfall to pay his respects, saying that "no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him."

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus was perplexed by what must have seemed like crazy talk. How often in our lives do we hear the counsel of inspired leaders, and treat it as naught? How often do warnings, exhortations, or special instructions come unto us, but because we are not attuned, we do not understand the semantic AND holistic subtleties?

It is my hope that we may seek after the Spirit, that we may come to recognize metaphors for what they mean, counsel for what it weighs, and the Savior for who He truly is. I also hope that we may, through the Spirit, understand our own natures, and that we are meant to be perfect, even as Heavenly Father and his Son are.

Have a great week!

His Hand is Stretched Out Still

“And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”--Matthew 14: 31

Do you ever feel this way? Do you ever feel like the impetuous Peter, assuming intent, and with your best intentions walk out into situations you do not fully comprehend? If our actions are based in righteous desires to fulfill true principles, we can be assured that the Savior will stretch out His hand, and will pull us out of a seeming destiny of destruction. This is the essence of the Atonement, that supernal gift that keeps on giving if we truly receive it.

In the Old Testament, the Lord spoke through Isaiah in a similar vein. Isaiah Chapter 5 outlines a great cursing to the House of Israel, how we will suffer if we are carnally minded, proud, and in all things make the darkness seem as if it were light. But at the end of this lashing we see this great scripture:

Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. --Isaiah 5:25

How great it is to know that the Savior's hand is still stretched toward us, even as the hills do tremble on account of our sins! Let us strive each and every day to be properly grateful for this fact. For it is a fact, and we cannot hide ourselves from the perfect love of the Savior, even despite our best efforts to do so.

In the scriptures we see examples of this all the time, where individuals were pulled out of the seas, helped that they might fulfill their earthly missions. When we think of this type of redemption, we think of Jonah, Saul, Enos, Alma the Younger, the Sons of Mosiah, and Corianton. They all started, faltered, but finished in strength. Quoth the Apostle Paul at the end of his earthly ministry:

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. --2 Timothy 4: 6-7

Now, not all of us are meant to be apostles. So what, then, is our course? We read in Moses 1: 38-39:

And as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof even so shall another come; and there is no end to my works, neither to my words. For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

As children of our Heavenly Father, his work becomes our work, and his course also becomes our course. We are to bring about the salvation and exaltation of those around us, starting with our families. The apostle Russel M. Nelson said:

Individual progression is fostered in the family, which is “central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.” ⁹ The home is to be God’s laboratory of love and service. There a husband is to love his wife, a wife is to love her husband, and parents and children are to love one another.

Throughout the world, the family is increasingly under attack. If families fail, many of our political, economic, and social systems will also fail. And if families fail, their glorious eternal potential cannot be realized.

Our Heavenly Father wants husbands and wives to be faithful to each other and to esteem and treat their children as an heritage from the Lord. ¹⁰ In such a family we study the scriptures and pray together. And we fix our focus on the temple. There we receive the highest blessings that God has in store for His faithful children.

Thanks to God’s great plan of happiness, ¹¹ families can be together forever—as exalted beings. Our Heavenly Father declared, “This is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” ¹² Both of His objectives were enabled by the Atonement of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. His Atonement made resurrection a reality and eternal life a possibility for all who would ever live.

I know that as we cultivate righteousness, we also will become righteous ourselves. We will overcome the natural man, and partake of the Atonement, drawing from the well of Living Water that never runs dry. It truly is amazing the love Jesus offers all of us. It is my testimony that His hand is still stretched out, and will be as long as we are willing to accept it.

Have a great week!

Obtaining and Maintaining a Testimony

And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
--Doctrine and Covenants 76:22

It is a great pleasure to write today concerning how to obtain and maintain a testimony. I hope that these words will be of inspiration to you on this topic.

Testimony Comes of the Spirit

Near the end of his ministry in the Holy Land, the Savior left his apostles words of consolation, that they might be yet strengthened in His absence:

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. --John 14:26

What great joy it gives me to know that the Savior left this Second Comforter for me that I might know, by the power of the Spirit, that He is the Christ, the Savior of all mankind. If we believe in Christ, we must believe that he left the Holy Ghost to teach us all things, and bring all things to our remembrance. But what comprises "all things?"


Our Testimony is in Christ

In Moroni 10: 6-7, we read:

And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.

And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever.

If I may be allowed interpret this scripture, I believe that it means that knowing "all things" means we know the difference between good and evil, and understand that all those good things come from the Savior, and testify that He is the Savior. We know, by the power of the Holy Ghost, that Jesus is the Christ. But what does this mean, to be "the Christ"?

James E. Talmage, a great saint and Church scholar, wrote the following:

"Christ is a sacred title, and not an ordinary appellation or common name; it is of Greek derivation, and in meaning is identical with its Hebrew equivalent Messiah or Messias, signifying the Anointed One...these several titles are expressive of our Lord's divine origin and Godship."

To be "The Christ" means to be set apart beforehand for a special work, specifically that of saving the people from their sins (see Matt 1: 21). But, why is it that we need to be saved from our sins? Can't we just be sinners and be okay with that?

A Testimony Takes Work

The answer to this lies in the essential, fallen nature of man. We experience hardship, blood, sweat, and tears as a result of the transgression of our first parents, Adam and Eve. This brought about two types of separation (i.e., imperfection) from God: death and sin. We read in Alma Chapter 12 the following:

And we see that death comes upon mankind, yea, the death which has been spoken of by Amulek, which is the temporal death; nevertheless there was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead.

...And now behold, if it were possible that our first parents could have gone forth and partaken of the tree of life they

would have been forever miserable, having no preparatory state; and thus the plan of redemption would have been frustrated, and the word of God would have been void, taking none effect.

...Wherefore, he gave commandments unto men, they having first transgressed the first commandments as to things which were temporal, and becoming as gods, knowing good from evil, placing themselves in a state to act, or being placed in a state to act according to their wills and pleasures, whether to do evil or to do good— Alma 12: 24, 26, 31

These passages are rife with true doctrine; I would like to focus on the fact that although we are currently in a fallen state, our days have been prolonged here on the earth that we might prepare. What does preparation feel like, exactly? Well, it involves acting, and not being acted upon.

A great example of this comes from one of my all-time favorite movies. Miracle portrays the true story of the 1980 U.S. Men's Hockey Team, which defied all odds in beating the powerhouse Soviets in route to a gold medal. In one scene, their preparation is made painfully apparent, as they skated "Herbies" (line-to-line sprints, named after their often-callous head coach, Herb Brooks) for hours after tying an under matched Norwegian squad. Although they suffered in that moment, the team suffered as a family, and was eventually able to overcome all hardships that they faced, even playing against the Soviets.

Let Us Be Well-Conditioned Saints

Likewise for us, a testimony takes hard work to obtain and maintain. We must be "well-conditioned", having the Spirit with us at all times, that we may work through the nuances of life as the Lord would have us do. A testimony comes from being our brother's keeper, from fearlessly showing love toward the children of men (see 1 John 4: 16-21) as much as we do for God. The Savior taught that if we truly love him, we will bring about His work and glory, which is to help bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (see John 14: 15, Moses 1: 39). I know that as we strive to do so, understanding that the refiner's fire does take work to endure, that we will be blessed, and our testimonies will grow, and we will feel closer to the Savior than ever before. Elder Bruce R. McConkie said in the April General Conference in 1985:

"And now, as pertaining to this perfect atonement, wrought by the shedding of the blood of God—I testify that it took place in Gethsemane and at Golgotha, and as pertaining to Jesus Christ, I testify that he is the Son of the Living God and was crucified for the sins of the world. He is our Lord, our God, and our King. This I know of myself independent of any other person.

I am one of his witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in his hands and in his feet and shall wet his feet with my tears.

But I shall not know any better then than I know now that he is God’s Almighty Son, that he is our Savior and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through his atoning blood and in no other way."

I could never trump Elder McConkie's humble testimony, but I do also know that what he said is true. I know that there comes a purifying power as we repent and apply the Atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives. I have felt that purifying power in my own life, and have felt to sing the song of redeeming love (Alma 5: 26). And I am happy to say that I can feel so now, that today I know that Jesus is the Christ, and that by and through him we may be saved from the first and second deaths, to be brought up in the final day, exalted sons and daughters of God.

Have a great week!

What will YOU do with the time?

"It is our duty to make popular
that which is sound and good."
--Joseph Smith

Yesterday was a special day for me. It marked 17 years to the day since I was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Now, I know that for many who read this such a milestone may seem trivial or minute, but the anniversary for me nonetheless caused me to reflect, and ask this question: "What have you done with those 17 years?"

Such a question in all of us should conjure up in our memories the promises we have made to follow the Savior, described well in Mosiah Chapter 18:

And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you? --Mosiah 18: 8-10

According to this passage, "following the Savior" can be measured by committing oneself to being numbered among His people, bearing one another's burdens, showing empathy unto those who are pained, comfort unto the comfortless, and standing as a witness of God in all aspects of life. This includes all times; that is, we should stand as a witness of God in every waking moment of our lives, including when no one is watching.

It is this type of virtue that gets noticed, observed, and eventually becomes the object of curiosity, even amidst a world in which sin becomes more prevalent, and dreadfully more accepted in the public eye. Thirty years ago, Elder M. Russell Ballard said to youth of the Church:

There have been some who have predicted earthquakes and destruction of all kinds to be upon us momentarily. The Savior himself tells us about many devastating times that lie ahead. (See Matt. 24.) But none of us knows exactly when those times are going to occur. So I would suggest that you follow the advice that I once heard Elder Boyd K. Packer give. He said something like this: “Plant your fruit trees. Cultivate them, fertilize them, watch them grow, and enjoy the fruit thereof. If the end comes during the process, so what? Do not deprive yourself of enjoying the fruits of your labors by living in fear of the world’s problems that lie ahead.”

On a day to day basis, we are flexing the time given us by staying the course in spite of hardship that might ensue. As true saints of Christ's true church, we don't give heed to the ways of the world, because we remember the covenants we made at baptism and beyond, and are in constant touch with the promised blessings from staying true to those covenants. We follow the eternal Compass, even when the adversary puts way points in our immediate path, for we know that if we look upon the Savior, we might gain eternal life (see Helaman 8: 15; Alma 33: 19; 37: 46). As we do so, people take notice of our peculiarity, but only when find joy in serving and striving to live the commandments. Elder Ballard continued:

If I were your age and thinking about life and its meaning, there is one characteristic that I would strive to develop. That characteristic is to have a positive attitude.
...I believe in the principle that you ought to act “as if” you were the person you would like to become. As you do that, you will grow into that kind of person. Ultimately your very actions, your attitude, will lead you into being the kind of person that you want to be.

...There should not be anyone here tonight who has a low self-image. How dare you or I to have a low self-image! We are the sons and daughters of God! We belong to Him. We are His children. He gave us birth. He gave us life. That knowledge alone causes every man and every woman, when they understand it, to rise and walk with their head held high.

As we do this, we follow the Prophet Joseph's admonition to make popular that which is sound and good. Yes, I believe this is what we should do with the time we are given. We spread the light of the Savior everywhere we go. It means sharing a simple testimony of our knowledge of the Savior, His divine mission, and the restoration of His true Church. It means becoming aware of the great impact that living righteously has on others. It means being constantly in tune with the Spirit, that we may know when it is prudent to take advantage of this awareness, that we might pierce the hearts of the children of men, that our testimony of the Savior might hit to the very core, Spirit speaking to spirit.

After receiving a simple, hour-long training on how to conduct therapy at the clinic where I work, our supervisor simply said, "go get 'em, guys." At first, I was disconcerted, because I knew nothing about how to really be a therapist. But as I pondered on the simplicity of the thing, I realized that my superiors trusted me to do good, as I had made it this far. Likewise, you who read this have made it this far, and have all the tools necessary to follow the admonition to make popular that which is sound and good.

It comes as the Lord trusts us to follow Him, and take part in the supernal gift that is His Atonement. I know the Atonement is real. It brings me out of my lowest points on a daily basis, and helps me stay positive amidst a world that denigrates that which is good. I know that the Lord trusts me to be a light unto this world, and that I have been saved for this time for that very purpose. We all have been saved for the latter-days for this purpose. It is my prayer that we be constantly in touch with this purpose.

Have a great week!

Adequate Motivation

And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever. --Moroni 10: 7

Today I would like to focus on the reason why it is so important to serve others with real, sincere intent, with meekness and love unfeigned (D & C 121: 41). My words will be a conceptualization of Moroni's words found in Moroni 10, the final chapter in the Book of Mormon. Like most of the Book of Moroni, chapter 10 has special significance for me, because Moroni wrote in the shadow of his pursuers, not knowing when they might take his life (Moroni 1: 1). Knowing that the Lord preserved Moroni for me gives special purpose to what he wrote. So why not study Moroni in greater depth?

And again, I exhort you, my brethren, that ye deny not the gifts of God, for they are many; and they come from the same God. And there are different ways that these gifts are administered; but it is the same God who worketh all in all; and they are given by the manifestations of the Spirit of God unto men, to profit them. --Moroni 10: 8

The above verses (7 & 8) give me an idea that God, who is infinitely powerful, manifests his power in such sublime, subtle ways that we must be in touch with the Spirit (the purveyor of God's power) to understand that we are constantly being blessed. This is ever salient for our talents, which we receive by many different means, for our benefit. How comforting it is to know that all that I receive is for my benefit!

For behold, to one is given by the Spirit of God, that he may teach the word of wisdom;

And to another, that he may teach the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

And to another, exceedingly great faith; and to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

And again, to another, that he may work mighty miracles;

And again, to another, that he may prophesy concerning all things;

And again, to another, the beholding of angels and ministering spirits;

And again, to another, all kinds of tongues;

And again, to another, the interpretation of languages and of divers kinds of tongues.

And all these gifts come by the Spirit of Christ; and they come unto every man severally, according as he will.

And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that every good gift cometh of Christ.

Verses 9-18 outline examples of different gifts that we receive. A couple of aspects of this passage are of particular comfort to me: 1) "every man [and woman]" is entitled to receive gifts from God if they are willing to receive them, and 2) all these gifts come from Christ, the "fountain of all righteousness" (Ether 12: 28). These two facts give me adequate motivation to continue serving others, knowing that if they let their lives become subsumed in the Lord's will, they will be able to profit of the Lord, and be blessed, enabled to bless the lives of others around them. This gives me adequate motivation to work to reveal strengths in even those who seem to have none.

And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that all these gifts of which I have spoken, which are spiritual, never will be done away, even as long as the world shall stand, only according to the unbelief of the children of men. --Moroni 10: 19

It comforts me to know that God will never change, which includes his perfect love for all of us. He will always bless us as we let him enter into our lives. It takes faith to live as though Heavenly Father has already blessed us (though, in my experience, he has but we fail to notice it), and hope that he will bless us with those things that we need in the very hour when we need them. It takes charity to see this same manifestation and potential manifestation in others, and then faith and hope again as we serve them to the best of our abilities.

I have found this to be so as I strive in good faith to learn how to help individuals who have strayed from the safe path, or whose path was never explicitly defined before them. It is my faith that a God who doesn't love me more than those I serve is willing to grant them blessings similar to those outlined by Moroni; however, sometimes it takes an extra exertion of faith, hope, and charity that others might be able to arrive at a point where they "deny not the gifts of God." It takes someone who can see those gifts, and the pattern of behavior necessary that enables accessing those gifts. Although individuals with special needs or mental illness have trouble accessing the gifts of God, it is my faith that all have strengths foreordained unto them by a loving and just Heavenly Father. This provides me adequate motivation to strive to find strengths in those in the direst of circumstances.

And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles. --Mormon 9: 19

Have a great week!

Let Your Light So Shine

What is the point of staying positive through all our hardships and trials? Can't we just let ourselves get angry, frustrated, sad, and just overall "have a tough time?" Sure, we can, and by virtue of the Fall, we all do experience negative emotions. We all experience darkness in our lives, but it's not because we let it in, but that we let our light shine dimmer than before. That is when we begin to experience despair. We experience it as we are exposed to the reality of the effects of the Fall, our carnal and imperfect state.

We become acquainted with what the natural world has to offer, and are prone to acquaint ourselves more with its offerings as we fall into a pattern of placating pain and anxieties in the manner that takes the least effort out of our self. But what happens when we buck the trend, and morph into something that goes beyond the expectations of the natural world? What happens when we pain ourselves in the right way, going against the grain of the natural world?

This action, in my mind, is the very pursuit of light, and its result is that we absorb and then emanate the true light which we find. Christ said,

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

...But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. (Matthew 5: 14-16; Luke 22:32)

So how do we go about doing this? How do we go from the active pursuit of light and truth to the active conveying of that which is good? In my mind, it is simple. It comes in not pursuing in secret, i.e., not holding in the great things we find as we search the Gospel. This can come in the form of Gospel conversations, the bearing of testimony, reading the scriptures with someone else, or just being open and honest in all things, including our faith. Quentin L. Cook said in our last General Conference the following:

The moral foundation of our doctrine can be a beacon light to the world and can be a unifying force for both morality and faith in Jesus Christ. We need to protect our families and be at the forefront together with all people of goodwill in doing everything we can to preserve light, hope, and morality in our communities.

If we both live and proclaim these principles, we will be following Jesus Christ, who is the true Light of the World. We can be a force for righteousness in preparing for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We look forward to that beautiful day when “free hearts will sing when the lights go on again all over the world.”

Have a great week!